United Nations Children’s Fund and Palestinian health officials have reported that Israel is responsible for killing an average of 28 Palestinian children each day in Gaza, constituting one of the highest child fatality rates seen during any modern conflict. Aid agencies now refer to Gaza as a graveyard for children (sources include Al Jazeera, WAFA Agency and The Washington Post)
UNICEF reports that since October 2023 when the conflict first flared up, over 18,000 children have been killed as a direct result of it, or at least one every hour; that totals 28 each day–equating to an entire classroom being lost each time this happens. *Sources include The Guardian +15; Al Jazeera + 15; WAFA Agency.
Meanwhile, Gaza Health Ministry reports over 60,900 total fatalities, with 150,000+ injuries including many children – this according to UNICEF USA as reported in The Washington Post and AP News (which provided updates). Also see Causes of Death Beyond Warfare
UNICEF has highlighted that child deaths in Gaza result from various causes:
Bombardments and direct airstrikes
Malnutrition and starvation, caused by food shortages and collapse of infrastructure, threaten millions of people across the globe.
Blocked access to healthcare, water and emergency services The Guardian
Al Jazeera *10 WPA +10 Wikipedia WFA Agency WPA WFAA >>2 AP News WAP Agency +2
At least 94 children are estimated to have starved to death within recent weeks alone due to inadequate and/or blocked aid convoys, according to The Guardian and Al Jazeera reports. Also see Education, Orphanhood and Mental Trauma
Humanitarian crises extend far beyond immediate death tolls:
Over 700,000 children have been internally displaced since the conflict began in Yemen in March 2011. Over 4,000 students and 209 educational staff members have been killed so far; thousands of schools have also been damaged or destroyed disrupting education for 625,000 students enrolled at these schools (The Guardian/Wikipedia +3)
+3 mes Children orphaned due to parental abandonment often endure permanent disabilities and severe psychological trauma such as CTSD, night terrors, and suicidal thoughts, according to The New Yorker.
Humanitarian Warnings and Global Response
UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell recently called Gaza “the most dangerous place on Earth for children”, noting the severe levels of suffering brought on by collapsed vital services and worsening famine conditions. In the Washington Post article below from October 3, she highlighted this reality for all to read.
The UN humanitarian chief described conditions as being beyond any description, warning of increasing casualties, forced displacements and widespread deprivations.
B’Tselem, Physicians for Human Rights-Israel and international watchdogs all accuse Israel of deliberately contributing to the crisis by withholding aid or targeting civilian infrastructure – some even labelling this “crimes against humanity” or genocide. TIME reports.
On-the-Ground Medical Testimonies
Healthcare providers bear witness to the devastation. Dr. Graeme Groom, a British orthopedic surgeon working in Gaza, reported treating multiple severely injured children daily due to shortages in supplies, electricity, and sanitation – prompting him to urge stronger international pressure against Israel.
Hospitals like Gaza’s Nasser Medical Complex are under incredible strain due to rising numbers of amputations, burn injuries and hunger-related ailments; as a result, operations must operate under extreme duress in order to survive. W. Wikipedia (+1)
Looking Ahead
With no visible end in sight to Gaza’s devastation, international calls for a ceasefire are growing more urgent. UNICEF reiterated their calls that children in Gaza require food, water, medicine and protection–but most importantly an immediate cessation of hostilities.
WAFA Agency
The human toll from war remains grave, with thousands of children losing their lives and futures being forever changed by violence and conflict. Now is the time for global action, lest more lives and futures are lost forever.