At a glance: Occupied Palestinian Territory

Renewed violence in Gaza raises serious concerns for children’s safety

© Reuters/Salem

A Palestinian boy looks at a damaged house following shelling in the town of Beit Hanoun, northern Gaza.

By Sabine Dolan

NEW YORK, USA, 8 November 2006 – Renewed violence in Gaza is again raising serious concerns about the welfare of civilians, including children. Over the past week, the armed conflict has claimed the lives of an estimated 68 Palestinians – including 18 reportedly killed in shelling as Israeli tanks withdrew from the town of Beit Hanoun before dawn today.

“The situation in northern Gaza, and in particular in Beit Hanoun, is very serious and is getting worse,” UNICEF Representative in the Occupied Palestinian Territory Dan Rohrmann said earlier this week. “There are tanks everywhere, shelling, house demolitions and there is fighting in the streets. People are getting quite desperate.

“The children are terrified by everything going on, including seeing family members being taken away,” added Mr. Rohrmann.

Overall, at least 350 people have been wounded in the recent Gaza incursion, and 14 children have been killed. Since the beginning of this year, over 100 children have died in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict – more than twice the total killed in 2005.

© Reuters/Mustafa

Palestinians carry a boy wounded by artillery in Beit Hanoun as Israeli tanks withdrew following a week-long incursion.

Food, water, medicines run low

Beit Hanoun, with a population of about 35,000 – more than half of whom are children – has been sealed off and remains under curfew. The western part of the city is without electricity and water service to some 10,000 people.

Food supplies are running out because markets and shops cannot renew their stocks. At the same time, aid organizations have been prevented access to some of the most deprived areas.

“Health is a major issue, and at the moment people do not have access to primary health care facilities due to the curfew, the lack of health staff and the lack of drugs. People fear leaving their homes to go to health clinics,” explained Mr. Rohrmann.

Call for ‘unhindered access’

To address this humanitarian crisis, UNICEF has been working closely with partners such as the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Agency, the World Food Programme and the International Committee of the Red Cross/Red Crescent.

The partner agencies are providing food and water, and have helped repair water systems. UNICEF has been distributing family water kits as well as baby hygiene kits, which are especially needed by those who do not have access to safe water and by families with young, vulnerable children.
 
“The most important thing right now is to stop the violence and to guarantee that the UN and NGOs have got unhindered access to Beit Hanoun in order to deliver the critical assistance that is needed,” asserted Mr. Rohrmann. And in a statement issued after today’s violence in Beit Hanoun, UNICEF reiterated its conviction that protecting civilians in such circumstances is an obligation under international law.

Tim Ledwith contributed to this story.