Statement by UNICEF Special Representative in the OPT

 

Statement

Statement by Dan Rohrmann, UNICEF Special Representative in occupied Palestinian territory

JERUSALEM, 1 August 2006 – As the international media is focused on the humanitarian disaster unfolding in Lebanon, sadly enough the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is on the verge of being forgotten.  For the 1.44 million Palestinians living in Gaza, out of which 838,000 are children, the humanitarian situation is a daily reality. 

Having just returned from Gaza, it is clear that children are living in an environment of extraordinary violence, fear and anxiety.  Over the last month, some 35 Palestinian children were killed in Gaza, almost a quarter of whom were less than 10 years old.  This figure brings the total number of Palestinian children killed this year due to the conflict in West Bank and Gaza to 65 children. These figures are the second highest since the beginning of the current crisis in September 2000. This year one Israeli child was killed, bringing the total to 66 children.  Since the beginning of the Intifada, the total number of children killed is 912, out of which 119 are Israeli children. 

Given the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, UNICEF is stepping up its support in health, education, water and sanitation, psychosocial counseling, and activities for adolescents and younger children. 

UNICEF reminds all parties that all children have rights, including those to health, water, education and protection.  These rights must be safeguarded irrespective of the environment they happen to live in.  Protection of civilians including children, as per the 4th Geneva Convention, is an obligation under international humanitarian law.

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About UNICEF
For 60 years UNICEF has been the world’s leader for children, working on the ground in 155 countries and territories to help children survive and thrive, from early childhood through adolescence.  The world’s largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS.  UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.

For further information, please contact:
Monica Awad, UNICEF oPt, Tel. +972-2-583-0103/4 or +972-577-784-374, mawad@unicef.org