article by Tessa Julia Protopapa and Aimee Kennerley, Y12
Currently, in Gaza, a humanitarian tragedy takes place. As winter is settling in, the situation in Palestine is worsening, putting the lives of 1.9 million displaced people at risk. To combat the elements that the winter brings, many, including children, are using cardboard boxes as shelter, and those who lack any resources are being drenched with rain water. The children of Gaza urgently need fuel in order to work their hospitals to care for the injured. Furthermore, they need fuel for heat, to avoid the winter cold as hypothermia is becoming an increasing threat. The issue of food insecurity is rapidly rising as 80% of the population faces catastrophic food shortages. Children face the brunt of this horrific war, which only furthers the need for a humanitarian pause to equip them with the resources they need.
Following an interview with head spokesperson for UNICEF, James Elder, the need for food, water and safe adequate shelter becomes increasingly important as the crisis continues. After spending 2 weeks in Gaza, Elder explained the graveness of the situation and how the lack of a foreseeable end only exacerbates the need for humanitarian intervention. Elder applauds the work done by other associations in order to aid the children in Gaza, such as WHO, Human Rights Watch, and others, yet still urges the need for more aid. Sufficient medical supplies, fuel, clean water and food are needed in order to keep the seven out of twenty-four hospitals in Gaza running. The 59,167 people, including children, injured in Gaza are relying on humanitarian aid to bring these supplies in order to stay alive.
Throughout this chaos, as Elder has stated, supporting and aiding the young generation impacted by this conflict has been UNICEF’s number one priority. Children, of all ages, are being faced with devastating circumstances. Indeed, Elder explained that many are unable to comprehend the entire situation and therefore view this dispute as relentless violence. It has become clear that almost every person, and even more devastating, every child, will be impacted for a lifetime because of the ongoing conflict in Gaza. An even more pressing matter, as mentioned by Elder, is the psychological consequences the horrors of war have on many people, especially children. After spending two weeks in Gaza, Elder declared it was clear that many children will need help and support in the foreseeable future, even when the conflict comes to an end. Hearing about the experiences in Gaza and what James Elder witnessed, really showcases how the need for aid, in both supplies and emotional support, is becoming more and more pressing. Despite this humanitarian crisis and its abominable circumstances for many civilians being an issue that is not going away, organizations such as UNICEF are doing everything possible to support the people in Gaza at this time.
all data and information obtained from UNICEF through James Elder’s interview
image from https://twitter.com/1james_elder