Gaza City, home to nearly 1 million residents who have sought refuge in the northern Gaza Strip, is now described as “city of fear, flight and funerals,” according to Tess Ingram, UNICEF communication manager for the Middle East and North Africa. In a live update from the Gaza Strip, Ingram painted a stark picture of families on the move, children torn from their parents, and mothers grieving children lost to starvation.
Over nine days on the ground, Ingram witnessed community after community arriving with little more than the clothes on their backs2ddisplaced families forced to flee twice or even three times to escape the intensifying offensive. “I’ve spoken to kids in hospital beds, their small bodies shredded by shrapnel,” she said, emphasizing the urgent need for protection under international humanitarian law.
Of the 92 UNICEF-supported outpatient nutrition treatment centers in Gaza City, only 44 remain operational. This means thousands of malnourished children are being cut off from life-saving support just when they need it most. “Our team is doing everything they can,” Ingram explained, “but with greater access and funding, we could reach every child in need.”
Ingram urged all actors to uphold international humanitarian law by ensuring unhindered humanitarian access, protecting civilians, releasing hostages, and reinstating a ceasefire. As Israeli forces control 40 percent of the city and Gaza health authorities report 53 deaths in a single day, she warns the window for action is closing fast.
Without an immediate pause and scaled-up assistance, the children of Gaza face a catastrophe that goes beyond lost homes2dit threatens their very survival and childhood itself.
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Gaza City has become 'city of fear, flight and funerals': UN official
cgtn.com
