Gaza's Children Pay the Heaviest Price, with Hundreds Dead

This is a summary of what was said by UNICEF Spokesperson James Elder – to whom quoted text may be attributed - at today's press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva 

GENEVA, 13 October 2023 – “Hundreds & hundreds of children have been killed and injured. Every hour in Gaza the number of children killed rises. The killing of children must stop.

“The images and stories are clear: children with horrendous burns, mortar wounds, and lost limbs. And hospitals are utterly overwhelmed to treat them. Yet the numbers keep rising.

“Israeli children being held hostage in Gaza must be safely and immediately reunited with their families and loved ones.

“The humanitarian situation has reached lethal lows, and yet all reports point to further attacks. Compassion – and international law – must prevail.

“UNICEF is calling for an immediate cease fire as 1.1 million people – nearly half of them children - have been warned to move out of the way ahead of a what is expected to be a ground assault on one of the most densely populated places on the planet, but with nowhere safe for civilians to go.

“Children and families in Gaza have practically run out of food, water, electricity, medicine and safe access to hospitals, following days of air strikes and cuts to all supply routes. 

“Gaza’s sole power plant ran out of fuel Wednesday afternoon, shutting down electricity, water and wastewater treatment. Most residents can no long get drinking water from service providers or household water through pipelines,

“At least six water wells, three water pumping stations, one water reservoir, and one desalination plant serving more than 1million people have been damaged by airstrikes.

“Humanitarians must be able to safely access children and their families with lifesaving services and supplies – wherever they may be.

“In every war, the ones who suffer the most are children. This is tragically true today.”