Desperate shortages of medicines and nutritious food, along with the spread of infectious diseases in the war-torn Gaza Strip, are exacerbating the already catastrophic health situation for children in the enclave.

One of the disastrous consequences of the continued fighting between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip is the alarmingly high rate of deaths among children there. According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, more than 14,000 children have been killed, with thousands more injured.

It is estimated that 1.7 million people in the enclave have been internally displaced, more than half of whom are children, struggling without enough water, food, fuel or medicine.

The extremely harsh living conditions and severe shortage of food supplies have left many children with infectious diseases, anemia, immunodeficiency and other illness.

Mira, a 4-month-old girl, was brought to hospital with severe malnutrition. Her father stayed with her for more than a week in the hospital due to the severity of her condition.

"My child, Mira, suffers from severe dehydration and malnutrition. When I took her to the hospital, she was in a difficult condition. She is only four months old. Now her condition is starting to improve. She was suffering from a lack of milk and vitamins. I do not have the money to provide milk, vitamins, or even clothes. I appeal to all countries of the world to help our children," said Haitham Abdel Aziz, Mira's father, who has had to flee his home.

Repeated Israeli raids against Gaza's infrastructure have destroyed the sewage system, turning the areas surrounding the displacement camps into swamps filled with waste water that spreads diseases among children.

Children in Gaza spend most of their days in the streets because their homes and schools have been destroyed. The war has deprived them of their right to play and led to the the spread of water-borne diseases that threaten children's lives, such as cholera, diarrhea, dysentery, and hepatitis.

"There is an ongoing war using famine as a weapon against our people in the Gaza Strip, especially children, by preventing the entry of aid and food supplies. This causes malnutrition for people, especially children. The lack of clean drinking water has also caused epidemics to spread quickly among children," said Dr. Khalil Al-Dakran, spokesman of Al-Aqsa Hospital in central Gaza.

The war destroyed 13-year-old Maha Al-Sarsak's home and school, and robbed her of a future in which she could live in safety. The girl was forced to begin working, washing clothes for other displaced people in exchange for a pittance to help support her family.

"Two of my younger sisters are disabled. So, I relied on myself and tried hard to participate in caring for my younger siblings. I continued to work despite the fatigue and misery in order to provide our daily sustenance," she said.

Since October last year, following Israel's violent bombardment on Gaza, the World Health Organization has recorded nearly 442,000 cases of diarrhea, including 111,070 among children under the age of five. Other common diseases causing pain to people in Gaza include acute respiratory infections, cases of scabies and lice, skin rashes, chickenpox and acute jaundice syndrome.

SHOTLIST:
Gaza Strip - May 29, 2024
1. Elderly man pushing wheelchair carrying patient;
2. Various of children;
3. Haitham Abdel Aziz, displaced Palestinian, caring his daughter in hospital;
4. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Haitham Abdel Aziz, displaced Palestinian:
"My child, Mira, suffers from severe dehydration and malnutrition. When I took her to the hospital, she was in a difficult condition. She is only four months old. Now her condition is starting to improve. She was suffering from a lack of milk and vitamins. I do not have the money to provide milk, vitamins, or even clothes. I appeal to all countries of the world to help our children.";
5. Various of debris;
6. Various of children;
7. Various of doctor, child patient's parent talking; child crying;
8. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Khalil Al-Dakran, spokesman, Al-Aqsa Hospital:
"There is an ongoing war using famine as a weapon against our people in the Gaza Strip, especially children, by preventing the entry of aid and food supplies. This causes malnutrition for people, especially children. The lack of clean drinking water has also caused epidemics to spread quickly among children.";
9. Maha Al-Sarsak, displaced Palestinian child, washing, hanging clothes;
10. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Maha Al-Sarsak, displaced Palestinian child:
"Two of my younger sisters are disabled. So, I relied on myself and tried hard to participate in caring for my younger siblings. I continued to work despite the fatigue and misery in order to provide our daily sustenance.";
11. Various of children, parents in hospital.

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