The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has issued a renewed appeal for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, alongside urgent calls for full humanitarian access, the safeguarding of children, and the safe release of all hostages.
In response to Israel’s recent commitment to implement humanitarian pauses, UNICEF welcomed the move as a step towards improving the delivery of critical aid.
The organisation described the situation in Gaza as “catastrophic,” with children bearing the brunt of the ongoing conflict.
Since hostilities escalated following the breakdown of the ceasefire in March, access to necessities has become increasingly scarce.
UNICEF says 2 million Gaza residents face food insecurity
According to UNICEF, Gaza’s 2 million residents are suffering from severe food insecurity, with one in three people reportedly going without food for days.
Alarmingly, children account for 80% of all reported deaths linked to starvation.
It views the temporary halts in fighting as a potential turning point to expand life-saving support and ease the humanitarian emergency.
The agency has continued operations throughout the crisis, but says more can be done if humanitarian corridors are expanded to accommodate both aid convoys and commercial deliveries.
In July, the organisation managed to send 147 trucks into Gaza, carrying essential nutrition supplies such as baby formula, milk, and high-energy biscuits. The agency says it is fully prepared to increase the volume of assistance if access conditions improve.
“We are ready to increase this number and ensure more life-saving aid enters Gaza at the required scale and bring hope to an exhausted population,” the agency stated.
Reiterating its core demands, UNICEF called on the global community to support an immediate ceasefire, ensure unimpeded access to aid across the territory, uphold the protection of children in conflict, and facilitate the release of hostages so they can be safely reunited with their families.
