UNICEF

“The footage of children being rescued from beneath the rubble, injured and in distress, while trembling in hospitals as they await treatment, portrays the immense horror these children are enduring. But without humanitarian access, the deaths from attacks could be the tip of the iceberg.” Adele Khodr, UNICEF Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa on the escalating crisis in Gaza. While some UNICEF supplies of water, medicine and hygiene kits have reached Gaza, we have many more life-saving supplies ready and waiting. We're calling for all access crossings into Gaza to be opened for a safe, sustained and unimpeded access of humanitarian aid, including water, food, medical supplies, and fuel.

Over 44,000 bottles of drinking water supplied by UNICEF – just enough for 22,000 people for 1 day – were driven through the Rafah Crossing today as part of a 20-truck convoy with the Egyptian Red Crescent, the World Health Organization and the World Food Programme. “With one million children in Gaza now facing a critical protection and humanitarian crisis, the delivery of water is a matter of life or death. Every minute counts,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. “This first, limited water will save lives, but the needs are immediate and immense – not just for water, but for food, fuel, medicine, and essential goods and services. Unless we can provide humanitarian supplies consistently, we face the real threat of life-threatening disease outbreaks.” Large parts of Gaza’s infrastructure, including critical water and sanitation systems, have been reduced to rubble in nearly two weeks of escalating violence. Water production capacity is at 5 per cent of normal levels, and the nearly 2.3 million residents in Gaza are now surviving on 3 litres of water per person per day. About a million people are displaced, around half of them children, and many have taken shelter in overcrowded shelters with extremely limited access to water, sanitation and hygiene – conditions that are especially dangerous for young children. “Every child must be protected and humanitarian agencies, like UNICEF, must be able to safely and predictably deliver assistance to children and families in Gaza who are in desperate need,’’ Russell said. “Above all, all parties must unconditionally protect every child from harm and afford them the special protection to which they are entitled, in accordance with obligations under international humanitarian law.” UNICEF has prepositioned additional emergency supplies for up to 250,000 people at the Rafah crossing that can be brought into Gaza in a matter of hours, with more enroute. Humanitarian supplies must be allowed to safely reach children and families in need wherever they are, in accordance with the rules of war. Read our full statement via the link in our bio.

Yesterday morning, a 6.3-magnitude earthquake shook western Afghanistan, once again devastating the lives of children and families already coping with multiple crises. UNICEF and our partners are on the ground, distributing critical supplies like blankets and tarpaulins for those who lost their homes. We've set up tents to provide extra space for overburdened health clinics. We're distributing family hygiene kits and other household items. We do not yet know the full extent of the destruction, but initial estimates indicate that several hundred people lost their lives or were injured. We are sending our heartfelt condolences to the mourning families and we wish those injured a quick recovery. Regram and photos: @unicefafghanistan.

Humanitarian law is clear: all parties must protect civilians and ensure humanitarian access.

UNICEF is calling for all access crossings into Gaza to be opened for a safe, sustained and unimpeded access of humanitarian aid, including water, food, medical supplies, and fuel.

Every sachet counts. Baby Ousseyni is eating ready-to-use therapeutic food thanks to a UNICEF-supported mobile health and nutrition clinic in Mali. The special mix of nutrients, vitamins and minerals is helping children recover from severe malnutrition across the world. © UNICEF/N’Daou

Unrelenting attacks have taken a devastating toll on Gaza's children. UNICEF is calling for an immediate ceasefire and for sustained and unimpeded access for humanitarian assistance.

Children in Afghanistan have been severely impacted by the recent earthquakes. To support their rising needs, more than 80 metric tons of UNICEF medical supplies arrived in Kabul. But to reach every child, we need your help. Donate today. Link in bio.

A staggering 19 million children are out of school in Sudan as conflict rages on. Millions of children and families have been displaced. UNICEF is providing safe spaces for children to learn, play and get the mental health support they need. You can help by donating today. Link in bio. © UNICEF/Mohamdeen

From Al-Arish airport in Egypt, Ted Chaiban, UNICEF Deputy Executive Director, on the life-saving humanitarian supplies - including water and medical supplies - that are making their way to support Gaza’s children. UNICEF is calling for an immediate ceasefire and for sustained and unimpeded access for humanitarian assistance.

Fuel means safe water. Fuel means functioning health facilities. And it is desperately needed in Gaza to operate hospitals, desalination plants and water pumping stations. As limited, yet life-saving medicine, food and water enter Gaza on UN trucks, it’s critical that fuel is allowed through too. The death toll will increase exponentially if hospitals don’t have electricity to function, if children continue to drink unsafe water and have no access to medicine when they get sick.