UNICEF Executive Director Says Serious Violations Against Children Occur In Gaza Strip

Executive Director of UNICEF Catherine Russell. (Wikimedia Commons/UNICEF Ukraine)

JAKARTA - UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell said on Wednesday severe abuses occurred against children in the conflict in the Gaza Strip, Palestine, the day after visiting the region.

"Conflict parties commit serious violations of children; this includes murder, removal, kidnapping, attacks on schools and hospitals, to denial of humanitarian access, all of which are condemned by UNICEF," he said in a statement.

Russell continued, in addition to thousands of children who died and were injured, many were also missing and believed to be trapped under the rubble of the destroyed buildings, which he described as "the tragic result of the use of weapons and explosives in densely populated areas."

Furthermore, he said, UNICEF staff continued their work on behalf of Gaza's children, even though they themselves were directly affected by the conflict.

"Many people, including our staff and their families, now live in overcrowded shelters with very little water, proper food or sanitation, a condition that could cause an outbreak of disease," he said.

Russell also called for a ceasefire to be realized immediately, to allow more humanitarian aid to reach the Gaza Strip, especially fuel. That is very necessary for hospitals to the water desalination process.

The Palestinian Ministry of Health in Ramallah said 11,225 Palestinians had died since the conflict in Gaza began, with 4,630 of them being children.

The UNICEF said more than 700,000 children had been displaced in the conflict sparked by the Hamas militant group's attack on the southern region of Israel which left about 1,400 people dead and 240 others held hostage.