The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) warned of a growing risk of disease outbreaks among children in the Gaza Strip, given the cold weather and the impact of storms on the territory, amid a severe shortage of basic supplies.
UNICEF said on Sunday that the current conditions, with the storms continuing, are exacerbating the risks to children’s health and safety, especially with the delayed arrival of essential aid, increasing the likelihood of cold-related illnesses and malnutrition.
The organization called for an urgent increase in the delivery of humanitarian aid, particularly winter clothing and tents, to cope with the harsh weather conditions. It stressed the need to allow unimpeded access for aid, including the large quantities of winter supplies that have accumulated at the borders of the Gaza Strip.
UNICEF noted that nutritional assessments conducted in cooperation with its partners last November revealed that approximately 9,300 children under the age of five in Gaza are suffering from acute malnutrition, indicating a deteriorating humanitarian and health situation for children.
