UN71009551
See video version at bottom of the article.
30 October 2023
Excellencies,
Thank you to Ambassador Nusseibeh and Ambassador França Danese for convening this meeting, and to Members of the Security Council, for this opportunity to speak with you about the humanitarian situation in the State of Palestine and Israel.
At UNICEF, we firmly believe that the true cost of this latest escalation will be measured in children’s lives – those lost to the violence and those forever changed by it.
After little more than three weeks, the devastating tally is quickly adding up, with rampant grave violations being committed against children. According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, more than 8,300 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, including over 3,400 children, with over 6,300 children injured. This means that more than 420 children are being killed or injured in Gaza every day – a number which should shake each of us to our core.
Of course, the violence being perpetrated against children extends beyond the Gaza Strip. In the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, at least 37 children have reportedly been killed. And of course more than 30 Israeli children have reportedly been killed, while at least 20 remain hostage in the Gaza Strip – their fates unknown.
Civilian infrastructure has also come under fierce attack.
According to the World Health Organization in Gaza, 34 attacks have been reported against health care facilities, including 21 hospitals. Twelve of Gaza’s 35 hospitals – which are also being used as shelters for displaced people – can no longer function.
At least 221 schools and more than 177,000 housing units have been damaged or destroyed.
Meanwhile, what little clean water remains in Gaza is quickly running out, leaving more than 2 million people in dire need. We estimate that 55 per cent of the water supply infrastructure requires repair or rehabilitation. Only one desalination plant is operating at just 5 per cent capacity, while all six of Gaza’s water-waste treatment plants are now non-operational due to a lack of fuel or power.
The lack of clean water and safe sanitation is on the verge of becoming a catastrophe. Unless access to clean water is urgently restored, more civilians, including children, will fall ill or die from dehydration or waterborne diseases.
As if this wasn’t enough, children in both Israel and the State of Palestine are experiencing terrible trauma – the consequences of which could last a lifetime.
Studies have shown that violence and upheaval can induce toxic stress in children that interferes with their physical and cognitive development, and causes mental health problems over both the short and the long term.
We are doing our best to reach all children in need, but the delivery of humanitarian aid – especially in Gaza – is now extremely challenging. This is due to both the current siege conditions imposed on Gaza, and the highly dangerous circumstances under which our staff are operating.
Some of our staff have lost close family members, including spouses and children.
And of course we are grieving with UNRWA, for their staff members who have been killed.
Two days ago, we lost contact with our colleagues in Gaza when telecommunications went down. This left them at even greater risk, and it made their work to help children even harder to accomplish.
Excellencies, UNICEF and our partners are committed to staying on the ground to deliver for children. But make no mistake, the situation grows worse by the hour, and without an urgent end to the hostilities, I am deeply afraid for the fate of the region’s children.
But we, and you, have the power to help lift children out of this spiral of violence.
I implore the Security Council to immediately adopt a resolution that reminds parties of their obligations under international law, calls for a ceasefire, demands that parties allow safe and unimpeded humanitarian access, demands the immediate and safe release of all abducted children, and urges parties to afford children the special protection to which they are entitled.
The Security Council should also prioritize what is now a worsening displacement crisis – with more than 1.4 million people in Gaza, the majority of whom are children, now displaced.
As the Secretary-General has said, the order for 1.1 million Palestinian civilians to leave northern Gaza should be rescinded. Demands for hospital evacuations should also cease, given their protected status under international humanitarian law.
All parties must stop violence, and prevent any grave violations committed against children.
We must have humanitarian access through all crossings into the Gaza Strip, through safe and efficient supply routes. And parties must ensure the safe and unimpeded movement of humanitarian supplies and personnel throughout the Gaza Strip for the delivery of humanitarian assistance, including -but not limited to- food, water, medicines, fuel, and electricity.
Finally, measures to prevent electricity, food, water and fuel from entering Gaza from Israel must be immediately reversed, so that civilians can have access to the services they need to survive.
Excellencies, UNICEF was created almost 77 years ago out of the ashes of World War Two. Our commitment to our mission has never wavered: we advocate for the rights of every child.
On behalf of all the children caught in this nightmare, we call on the world to do better. Whether they are young people attending a music festival, or children going about their daily lives in Gaza, they all deserve peace. Children do not start conflicts, and they are powerless to stop them. They need all of us to put their safety and security at the forefront of our efforts, and to imagine a future where children are healthy, safe, and education. No child deserves any less.
Thank you.
Thank you to Ambassador Nusseibeh and Ambassador França Danese for convening this meeting, and to Members of the Security Council, for this opportunity to speak with you about the humanitarian situation in the State of Palestine and Israel.
At UNICEF, we firmly believe that the true cost of this latest escalation will be measured in children’s lives – those lost to the violence and those forever changed by it.
After little more than three weeks, the devastating tally is quickly adding up, with rampant grave violations being committed against children. According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, more than 8,300 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, including over 3,400 children, with over 6,300 children injured. This means that more than 420 children are being killed or injured in Gaza every day – a number which should shake each of us to our core.
Of course, the violence being perpetrated against children extends beyond the Gaza Strip. In the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, at least 37 children have reportedly been killed. And of course more than 30 Israeli children have reportedly been killed, while at least 20 remain hostage in the Gaza Strip – their fates unknown.
Civilian infrastructure has also come under fierce attack.
According to the World Health Organization in Gaza, 34 attacks have been reported against health care facilities, including 21 hospitals. Twelve of Gaza’s 35 hospitals – which are also being used as shelters for displaced people – can no longer function.
At least 221 schools and more than 177,000 housing units have been damaged or destroyed.
Meanwhile, what little clean water remains in Gaza is quickly running out, leaving more than 2 million people in dire need. We estimate that 55 per cent of the water supply infrastructure requires repair or rehabilitation. Only one desalination plant is operating at just 5 per cent capacity, while all six of Gaza’s water-waste treatment plants are now non-operational due to a lack of fuel or power.
The lack of clean water and safe sanitation is on the verge of becoming a catastrophe. Unless access to clean water is urgently restored, more civilians, including children, will fall ill or die from dehydration or waterborne diseases.
As if this wasn’t enough, children in both Israel and the State of Palestine are experiencing terrible trauma – the consequences of which could last a lifetime.
Studies have shown that violence and upheaval can induce toxic stress in children that interferes with their physical and cognitive development, and causes mental health problems over both the short and the long term.
We are doing our best to reach all children in need, but the delivery of humanitarian aid – especially in Gaza – is now extremely challenging. This is due to both the current siege conditions imposed on Gaza, and the highly dangerous circumstances under which our staff are operating.
Some of our staff have lost close family members, including spouses and children.
And of course we are grieving with UNRWA, for their staff members who have been killed.
Two days ago, we lost contact with our colleagues in Gaza when telecommunications went down. This left them at even greater risk, and it made their work to help children even harder to accomplish.
Excellencies, UNICEF and our partners are committed to staying on the ground to deliver for children. But make no mistake, the situation grows worse by the hour, and without an urgent end to the hostilities, I am deeply afraid for the fate of the region’s children.
But we, and you, have the power to help lift children out of this spiral of violence.
I implore the Security Council to immediately adopt a resolution that reminds parties of their obligations under international law, calls for a ceasefire, demands that parties allow safe and unimpeded humanitarian access, demands the immediate and safe release of all abducted children, and urges parties to afford children the special protection to which they are entitled.
The Security Council should also prioritize what is now a worsening displacement crisis – with more than 1.4 million people in Gaza, the majority of whom are children, now displaced.
As the Secretary-General has said, the order for 1.1 million Palestinian civilians to leave northern Gaza should be rescinded. Demands for hospital evacuations should also cease, given their protected status under international humanitarian law.
All parties must stop violence, and prevent any grave violations committed against children.
We must have humanitarian access through all crossings into the Gaza Strip, through safe and efficient supply routes. And parties must ensure the safe and unimpeded movement of humanitarian supplies and personnel throughout the Gaza Strip for the delivery of humanitarian assistance, including -but not limited to- food, water, medicines, fuel, and electricity.
Finally, measures to prevent electricity, food, water and fuel from entering Gaza from Israel must be immediately reversed, so that civilians can have access to the services they need to survive.
Excellencies, UNICEF was created almost 77 years ago out of the ashes of World War Two. Our commitment to our mission has never wavered: we advocate for the rights of every child.
On behalf of all the children caught in this nightmare, we call on the world to do better. Whether they are young people attending a music festival, or children going about their daily lives in Gaza, they all deserve peace. Children do not start conflicts, and they are powerless to stop them. They need all of us to put their safety and security at the forefront of our efforts, and to imagine a future where children are healthy, safe, and education. No child deserves any less.
Thank you.
A good statement by C. Russell. Now what can we/XUNICEF/CO-Peace do to help?. Let's connect with our Irish NGO who has links on the ground in the tragic areas.
ReplyDeleteDear Mary,
DeleteI have been trying to schedule a meeting with Dr. Siobhan Fitzpatrick(Northern Ireland) Chairperson
of the International Network on Peace Building with Young Children(INPB) and Dr. Ghassan Issa
(Lebanon) General Coordinator of the Arab Network for Early Childhood Development
(ANECD)....
So far they have been very busy because of the unfolding tragedy in Gaza, but soon I will
share some dates with you ,
With appreciation,
Rima
Alf shokr ya Rima
DeleteIndeed, an excellent statement by UNICEF ED.
ReplyDeleteCalling for a ceasefire for children, and/or children as zones of peace is in the best tradition of UNICEF.
All previous UNICEF EDs (except Ann Veneman) have done so in similar situations.
I salute Cathy Russel for taking this principled position, despite the US government's wishy-washy excuses & double standards (Russia/Ukraine vs. Israel/Palestine).
======================
Kul Chandra Gautam
While I agree that the statement is very good, I believe that by the UNRWA is more compelling. Suggest we also acknowledge the lead role and the greater sacrifice of staff by this sister agency, Baquer
ReplyDelete"The number of children reported killed in just three weeks in Gaza is more than the number killed in armed conflict globally – across more than 20 countries – over the course of a whole year, for the last three years,”
ReplyDeleteHow is this even possible!!!! There should be much greater outrage than there is. The whole world should be coming together to stop this genocide.
Niloufar
The statement is indeed VERY good. I would hope that the UNICEF Committees and UNICEF field offices around the world are doing everything possible to disseminate it to the media and to politcal leaders. Is there something in this line that we can do? For some audiances the entire presentation may be a too long, to sieze and hold attention, and hopefully significantly change feelings and positions. If we choose to disseminate it, do we need an attention-grabbing headline?
ReplyDeletePerhaps to some, forwarding exceprts will be more effective than the entire presentation: For example this:
"After little more than three weeks, the devastating tally is quickly adding up, with rampant grave violations being committed against children. According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, more than 8,300 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, including over 3,400 children, with over 6,300 children injured. This means that more than 420 children are being killed or injured in Gaza every day – a number which should shake each of us to our core."
...may be enough to grab the attention of some. Moncef, do we have the expertise in our group to use the EsDir's presentation in whole and in pieces to really inflence opinion and hopefully action?
Dear Colleagues,
ReplyDeleteI agree that UNICEF ED gave a good speech to the SC...not great, but better than usual....but also that the one given by Lazzarini of UNRWA was more forceful and realistic since they are more intimately involved and in a much more organic way. I submit to you that this video by a Norwegian doctor who has worked in Gaza for 16 years is even more impressive as he minces no words and ends with stats that are current and up-to-date.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fEVFOvXEXVpeAiK_G1-rkIWV-93CLkFD/view?usp=drive_link
I also liked Niloufar's statement on the casualties among children. Perhaps with all these we can a find a way to influence the situation.
On the other hand, I have been losing a lot of sleep and thinking a great deal about the narrative we espouse relative to Child Survival which JPG initiated some 43 years ago. When the narrative of "40,000 children dying every Day", or the equivalent of :"Xnumbers of jumbo jets crashing daily" came out from UNICEF it was a NOVELTY and shook people in a way that they had not been before. That led us to the heights of importance in the UN and made our success with CSDR/GOBI and the many other innovations that helped UNICEF become what it is today, including the CRC, the Summit for Children, Children as Corridors of Peace, etc
.
On the other hand in the intervening decades, especially with the advent of "social media", it seems to me that the media of the world, mainly in the West, have inured us to the data related to child deaths or injuries such that it has pervaded the glut of information spewed daily or hourly over all our devices. Makes one think what people feel when they learn tjhat half the children in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Tigray, Sudan, Myanmar etc including Palestine/Gaza, are killed or maimed or injured or unaccounted for...do they say, "Tsk, Tsk, it is bad, or terrible, or horrible, or brutal" and turn to other matters in their lives ? Does any of such information REALLY affect the politicos and their actions to resolve such situations? Seems to me that the world is more concerned about financial, economic, political, religious matters and how relations are among countries. Reminds me of the sarcastic saying, "of all the natural resources on Earth, humans are the only ones who increase, and are therefore expendable".
Do we need to change the NARRATIVE to something that will grab people's attention and concerns like Child Survival did four decades ago ? Is there an issue related to children that can be articulated to produce a new narrative?
Am I too pessimistic ?
Fouad