GAZA CITY: The Gaza health ministry reported that at least 46 Palestinian people were killed and 110 persons injured on Wednesday in the northern Gaza Strip, particularly in the town of Jabalia. Many remained trapped under the debris of buildings destroyed by Israeli forces, exacerbating the already dire humanitarian situation.
Catherine Russell, the executive director of UNICEF, warns of a life-and-death situation for Palestinian children in Gaza as access to clean water decreases amidst relentless Israeli bombardments. Russell emphasizes that without safe water, the risk of more children succumbing to deprivation and disease is imminent. Ongoing Israeli bombings and restrictions on vital resources further compounded the dire conditions, hindering progress in addressing the critical water shortage.
Melanie Ward, head of Medical Aid for Palestinians, declared the collapse of the health system in Gaza, leaving its 2.2 million residents in desperate need. Ward urgently demands an immediate end to Israeli attacks on healthcare facilities.
Reports emerge that Israeli forces have besieged the Palestine Red Crescent Society ambulance center in Jabalia from all directions. This development adds to the challenges faced by emergency responders and further complicates efforts to provide essential medical aid to those in need.
Peter Rademaker from the International Labour Organization warns that Palestinians in Gaza are likely to endure poverty for months and even years due to the extensive damage caused by Israeli bombardment. The already depressed labour market in the region, compounded by years of blockade, leaves many without income or wages, increasing reliance on international assistance that may be difficult to secure amid global crises.
Israeli Airstrikes Causes Unprecedented Devastation
As Israel’s air strikes escalate in scale and magnitude across the Gaza Strip, reports reveal the profound impact on civilian areas. Rafah, Deir el-Balah, and refugee camps in central Gaza have become major targets, resulting in the destruction of residential homes and the tragic loss of civilian lives, including women and children. The situation remains dire in the northern part of Gaza City, where relentless artillery shelling and air strikes continue unabated.
The UN children’s agency warns that water and sanitation services in Gaza are on the brink of collapse, raising concerns about large-scale disease outbreaks. Displaced children in the southern Gaza Strip are reported to be accessing only a fraction of the minimum water needed for survival.
