1 Million Gaza Children Face Survival Struggle amid Israeli Blockade: UNICEF
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – One million children in Gaza are "struggling to survive" as Israel's blockade cuts off all humanitarian aid, causing severe shortages of water and food, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) warned.
UNICEF described the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where a complete blockade on aid has left hundreds of thousands without clean water and proper sanitation.
“It is urgent to allow at least some water and electricity into the enclave to save children’s lives,” said UNICEF regional director Edouard Beigbeder from Deir el-Balah in central Gaza.
The UN agency stressed that water is a basic human right that should not be denied, adding that while UNICEF and its partners are attempting to provide aid, only an unrestricted flow of supplies and a lasting ceasefire can truly alleviate the crisis.
Meanwhile, charities that once fed thousands are shutting down due to the lack of essential supplies, including cooking gas and clean water. Those still operating are rapidly running out of resources.
“The markets are running out of products, and much of what little is available is now unaffordable,” said Al Jazeera’s Tareq Abu Azzoum, reporting from Deir el-Balah.
“Community kitchens, once feeding thousands, are now fighting their own battle against time, scarcity, and worsening starvation.”
Mohammed Abu Hamza, who runs a local kitchen, described the dire conditions. “Community kitchens have been a lifeline for countless displaced families in Gaza, but with border crossings sealed, the humanitarian situation has worsened dramatically. There is no food, no gas, no wood—nothing left to keep these kitchens running, as hunger tightens its grip on Gaza.”
The situation has been exacerbated by the shutdown of Gaza’s main desalination plant, which was previously powered by an Israeli electricity line. The facility’s water production has dropped from 17,000 cubic meters per day to just 2,000 cubic meters after the power was cut.
Aid access has been completely blocked for 16 days, preventing the entry of health supplies, medicine, fuel, and cooking gas. As a result, residents are forming long queues at water collection points, bakeries, and food distribution centers, with skyrocketing prices making the little that remains unaffordable for most.
UN officials have repeatedly warned of the catastrophic humanitarian impact, with hospitals on the verge of collapse unless aid is allowed to enter.
