UNICEF statement on latest deaths of children in Israel and Gaza

23 August 2014

الخبر باللغة العربية

NEW YORK, 23 August 2014 – “The death of a four year old Israeli child in a rocket attack yesterday and the reported deaths of two Palestinian children in Gaza in an airstrike this morning, add to those of 478 other Palestinian children killed in attacks in Gaza over the last month. The deaths of children on all sides constitute further tragic evidence of the terrible impact the conflict is having on children and their families on all sides.”

“Children are bearing the brunt of a conflict that is not of their making. The fighting is inflicting terrible suffering on children and having a devastating impact on the infrastructure upon which they rely for their health, education, protection and wellbeing.”

“UNICEF once again calls on all parties to the conflict to protect civilians, especially children, as required by international law and to recommit to a ceasefire so that no further lives are lost and humanitarian agencies can expand their essential work in Gaza.”

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For more information please contact:

Catherine Weibel, UNICEF Jerusalem, Tel: + 972 54 77 87 604, cweibel@unicef.org

Simon Ingram, UNICEF Amman, Tel: + 962 (0) 79 5904740, singram@unicef.org

Rita Ann Wallace, UNICEF New York, Tel.: +1 917 213 4034, rwallace@unicef.org

Melanie Sharpe, UNICEF New York, Tel.: 917-485-3344, msharpe@unicef.org

Media contacts

Juliette Touma
Regional Chief of Advocacy and Communications
UNICEF Middle East and North Africa Regional Office
Tel: 00962798674628

About UNICEF

UNICEF promotes the rights and wellbeing of every child, in everything we do. Together with our partners, we work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere.

For more information about UNICEF and its work for children, visit www.unicef.org.

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