‘Children bearing brunt of Gaza conflict’

CHILDREN are bearing the brunt of the conflict in Gaza as the Israeli offensive to flush out Hamas fighters leaves youngsters battling indelible trauma while threatening the lives of newborns and their mothers, a senior aid official says.

Ann Veneman, executive director of the United Nations’ children body UNICEF, says too little is being done to protect Gaza’s children — whoaccount for half the territory’s population — from the horrors of the latest conflict.

More than 320 children have been killed and 1,500 injured in Gaza since the current conflict began more than three weeks ago, she says, a situation she has described as tragic and unacceptable.

“They are the innocent victims,” she said in Johannesburg, South Africa, before the launch of UNICEF’s annual State of the World’s Children report.

Because they cannot escape the constant violence, Veneman says, most of Gaza’s children are severely traumatised.

UNICEF is airing radio spots on the Gaza airwaves that advise parents on how to comfort their upset and terrified children.

Also, UNICEF has teams on standby to offer psychological support to families.