UNICEF Calls for Protection of Gazan Children

 The United Nations children agency UNICEF has urged the protection of Gazan children against the raids by the Zionist regime of Israel in recent days.

 “In the last 10 days, three children were killed and dozens more were seriously injured in the recent tragic events in the Gaza Strip. UNICEF deplores all acts of violence against children,’ the agency said in a statement on Tuesday.

Israeli regime’s raids on Palestinians have been escalated following the massive protests by Palestinians against the occupation of their lands by the regime.

 Twenty nine Palestinians have been killed since March 30. The massive demonstrations have been titled “The Great March of Return” of refugees to their homes that are currently under occupation of the Zionist regime.

Warning on the dire circumstances of life for Gazan children during the last decades, the UN body said, “It is imperative that all actors on all sides put the protection of children first. Children should never be the target of violence and must not be put at risk of violence nor encouraged to participate in violence.’

 “These latest developments compound an already acute crisis in the Gaza Strip, where families have been coping with less than five hours of electricity per day for almost a year. Among young people, who have experienced three major rounds of armed conflict in the last decade, unemployment is above 60 per cent. Only 10 per cent of families in the Gaza Strip have regular direct access to drinking water. One in four children (250,000) are in need of psychosocial support due to past trauma and more than half of children depend on some form of assistance for their daily survival.’

The statement also said that UNICEF has delivered health supplies into Gaza and is trying to inform families on psychological support for their children.

IRNA

R.S