UNICEF Sounds Alarm Over Growing Suffering of Children in Gaza

UNICEF Communication Specialist, Salim Oweis, shared distressing stories from desperate parents in Gaza during a recent UN briefing. One mother, Hind, has not slept since her daughter, Masa, was bitten by a rat in their shelter, which is filthy and filled with sewage. Another mother, Amani, struggles to care for her daughter Lemar, who is suffering from painful bacterial infections. Despite Amani’s efforts to clean Lemar’s wounds with scarce clean water, her daughter is in constant agony. Abdel Aleem’s family tries to protect themselves from rats by using sandbags around their tent, but the rats still manage to get in and have bitten several family members.

Oweis noted the heartbreak common among parents who feel unable to protect their children’s health and safety, especially given the dire living conditions in Gaza. The area, already very crowded, has seen families crammed into only 40 percent of the remaining space, living among debris and waste. Families struggle to find enough clean water for drinking, washing, and cooking.

UNICEF aims to provide clean water to 1.5 million people each month but faces major challenges. Recent violence has made access to water difficult, and vital resources to repair water systems are not being allowed into Gaza. As waste accumulates, health issues are rising, with many children suffering from respiratory infections, diarrhea, and skin diseases. Hospitalization rates are increasing, yet there is no fully functioning hospital available. Despite efforts to prevent famine, malnourishment among children remains a critical issue.

Oweis emphasized that no parent should have to witness their child suffer from preventable conditions. He insisted that access to water, food, and healthcare should be guaranteed for every child and called for unrestricted humanitarian access in Gaza.