UNICEF has warned of the serious humanitarian consequences of Israel’s military offensive on Gaza City, stressing that it is having a “devastating and extremely cruel” impact on more than 450,000 children who are already suffering from psychological trauma and severe exhaustion after two years of continuous war.

UNICEF: the catastrophic consequences of Israel’s actions

Edward Paabed, UNICEF’s regional director for the Middle East and North Africa, said in a statement on Friday that the use of explosive weapons in densely populated areas, such as Gaza City, leads to “double the catastrophic consequences.” including the killing and maiming of civilians, including children, and the destruction of homes, schools, health facilities, and vital water networks, threatening to render the city uninhabitable.

He noted that famine is now a reality, with more than 10,000 children diagnosed with acute malnutrition in the past two months alone, while some 2,400 children with severe acute malnutrition face the risk of starvation if treatment is interrupted. He expressed grave concern about the situation of premature babies in incubators, patients in intensive care units, and children with disabilities, who need to be safely evacuated amid ongoing military operations.

UNICEF warned of an “impending disaster” as the offensive expands amid limited shelter and services, calling on Israel to fulfill its international legal obligations and ensure safe and sustained access for humanitarian aid through all crossings, in addition to protecting civilians and essential infrastructure such as hospitals and shelters from being targeted.

The organization also called for humanitarian workers to be given unhindered access to children and their families and to provide life-saving assistance wherever they are in the sector, stressing that freedom of movement to safer areas must be a choice available to civilians, not a measure imposed on them by force.

UNICEF stressed that any further escalation of the attack on Gaza City would tragically compound the suffering of children and strip them of their last remaining protection, calling for urgent action to save their lives and guarantee their basic rights.

Featured image via the Canary

By Alaa Shamali

This post was originally published on Canary.