1 in every 5 children in Gaza suffers from malnutrition: UNICEF spox.
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In an interview for Al Mayadeen, UNICEF spokesperson Kazem Abu-Khalaf discusses the consequences of the latest Israeli decision to severe ties with the UN agency for Palestinian refugees.
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Palestinians line up for free food in Rafah, Gaza Strip, Feb. 23, 2024. (AP)
What is happening in Gaza shatters all standards and violates all international law, UNICEF spokesperson Kazem Abu-Khalaf told Al Mayadeen on Monday, emphasizing that the Israeli ban on UNRWA will certainly impact its operations in the Strip as an international humanitarian organization.
Abu-Khalaf underlined that UNRWA is the backbone of all humanitarian responses in the Gaza Strip, affirming that the bombardment in Lebanon and Gaza does not differentiate civilian targets from military ones, and disregards the provisions of international law.
The UN official revealed that one in every five children in Gaza suffers from malnutrition, stressing that some children have reached the stage of emaciation.
He confirmed that 120,000 children under the age of ten need to receive the polio vaccine in Gaza, but the organization has been unable to vaccinate more than 94,000. "All our appeals, briefings, and statements for a ceasefire in Lebanon and Gaza fall on deaf ears," he grimly added.
The Israeli occupation regime formally announced on Monday that it had cut ties with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), which provides aid to Palestinian refugees, following a parliamentary decision to ban the agency.
The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the notification to the UN, stating it was acting on instructions from Foreign Minister Israel Katz.
"UNRWA, the organization whose employees participated in the October 7 massacre and many of whose employees are Hamas operatives, is part of the problem in the Gaza Strip and not part of the solution," Katz claimed, reiterating baseless claims about the UN agency.
Read more: UK, six others oppose ban on UNRWA operations in 'Israel': Statement
