Gaza truce fails to protect youth as child death toll exceeds 340, UN reports
UNITED NATIONS: More than 340 children have been reportedly killed and hundreds more injured in Gaza since a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel was announced, the UN Children’s Fund (Unicef) said on Friday, warning that children continue to face grave risks despite the truce. “For families mourning the loss of their children, those terrible statistics do not equate with a ceasefire,” Unicef spokesperson Ricardo Pires told reporters in Geneva. The Unicef noted that five boys and two girls had been reported killed in Gaza over the preceding two weeks, while at least 33 children were seriously injured in air strikes, drone strikes and gunfire across the territory. Two other boys died from injuries sustained earlier, Pires said. Around 800,000 children remain displaced, most living in tents or damaged buildings, while an estimated 60,000 have lost one or both parents during the war or since the ceasefire, according to the Unicef. Nearly every child needs some form of mental health support to recover from the effects of the conflict. The agency called on the parties to the conflict to uphold the ceasefire, comply with UN Security Council Resolution 2803 and meet their obligations under international humanitarian law. “Above all, we need to listen to the voices of children in Gaza,” the Unicef said, stressing that recovery meant more than survival. Children needed to return to school, spend time with friends and family, have dignified shelter, play safely and receive healthcare, the agency said. “Gaza’s children have suffered far too much, for far too long,” it added. The agency stressed the need to maintain an uninterrupted flow of humanitarian and commercial supplies into Gaza, following reports that private traders had halted cooperation with Israeli authorities over the entry of commercial trucks carrying food. Pires recalled that supplies had been unable to enter Gaza before the ceasefire, when famine was declared by UN-backed food security experts. “We can’t go back to a situation where children and families are not getting all the supplies, goods and services that they require,” he said. Despite the continuing hardship, Unicef has helped more than 560,000 children return to learning since the ceasefire, including through more than 200 learning centres it supports. The agency has also provided digital cash assistance to more than 380,000 people and safe water to 1.2 million people.
More than 340 children have been killed and hundreds of others wounded in the Gaza Strip since a ceasefire was reached between Israel and Hamas, the United Nations Children's Fund announced on Friday.
The agency emphasized that young people across the territory continue to face lethal dangers even after the truce took effect. Speaking to reporters in Geneva, Unicef spokesperson Ricardo Pires stated that for families grieving their lost loved ones, such alarming figures do not reflect the reality of an actual ceasefire.
Recent violence highlights the lingering peril. Over the past two weeks alone, reports indicate five boys and two girls lost their lives in Gaza, while at least 33 children sustained severe injuries from aerial bombardments, drone attacks, and gunfire. Two additional boys succumbed to wounds inflicted in earlier incidents, according to Pires.
Living conditions throughout the enclave remain desperate. Approximately 800,000 children are currently displaced, with most sheltering in temporary tents or structurally compromised buildings. Furthermore, an estimated 60,000 youngsters have been orphaned of either one or both parents throughout the war and the subsequent truce period. The UN agency noted that virtually every child in Gaza now requires mental health assistance to process and heal from wartime trauma.
Unicef urged all warring parties to respect the declared cessation of hostilities, abide by UN Security Council Resolution 2803, and strictly adhere to their duties under international humanitarian law. Humanitarian officials emphasized that long-term recovery must extend beyond mere physical survival, pointing out that children require access to education, safe recreation spaces, adequate shelter, healthcare, and time with family.
Maintaining a steady flow of aid and commercial goods into Gaza remains an urgent priority for relief operations. Unicef expressed deep concern after private merchants reportedly stopped coordinating with Israeli officials regarding the entry of commercial food shipments. Pires recalled the extreme shortages prior to the truce, when UN-supported experts formally declared famine conditions, stressing that Gaza cannot return to an environment where vulnerable families are cut off from essential provisions and services.
Amid the ongoing crisis, Unicef reported that it has assisted upwards of 560,000 children in resuming educational activities since the ceasefire began, operating through more than 200 designated learning facilities. The agency has additionally distributed electronic cash aid to over 380,000 residents and secured safe drinking water for roughly 1.2 million people across the territory.
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DevelopingReported from Dawn (Pakistan).
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