Is Gaza City Becoming a 'City of Fear, Flight, and Funerals'?
Click to start listening
Synopsis
Gaza City is under siege, transforming into a 'city of fear, flight, and funerals,' according to UNICEF's Tess Ingram. With nearly 1 million people at risk, urgent international action is needed to avert a humanitarian catastrophe.
Key Takeaways
- Gaza City is undergoing a humanitarian crisis.
- Children are particularly vulnerable to the conflict.
- UNICEF's operations are severely impacted due to funding shortages.
- International intervention is crucial to prevent further catastrophe.
- Continuous efforts are necessary to protect civilians and facilitate aid.
The United Nations, on September 5 (NationPress), highlighted that Gaza City, which remains the last haven for many families in the northern Gaza Strip, is rapidly transforming into a place where childhood is unable to thrive, according to Tess Ingram, UNICEF Communication Manager for the Middle East and North Africa region.
"It is a city of fear, flight, and funerals," Ingram stated during a daily briefing via video link from Gaza Strip at the UN headquarters in New York.
The international community is raising alarms regarding the possible consequences of an intensified military offensive in Gaza City, which could lead to a catastrophe for nearly 1 million residents still there, she warned.
"It would be an unthinkable tragedy, and we must do everything we can to avert it," Ingram insisted.
Ingram recounted her experiences over the past nine days, where she met families in Gaza City who had fled their homes out of fear—already displaced and now facing displacement again—arriving with nothing but the clothes they were wearing, as reported by Xinhua.
"I encountered children separated from their parents amidst the chaos. Mothers whose children have perished from starvation. Mothers terrified that their children might be next. I’ve interacted with kids in hospital beds, their small bodies torn apart by shrapnel," she shared.
As per Ingram, only 44 out of 92 UNICEF-supported outpatient nutrition treatment centers in Gaza City remain operational, depriving thousands of malnourished children of more than half of the lifelines they need to combat famine.
"Our team is striving to assist children. However, we could accomplish so much more and reach every child here if our operations on the ground were scaled and adequately funded," she explained.
Ingram emphasized that Palestinian life is being dismantled in Gaza, and the suffering of children in the Gaza Strip is not an accident.
"It is the direct result of decisions that have transformed Gaza City and the entire Strip into a location where people's lives are under constant attack, from every angle, daily," she asserted.
Ingram reiterated UNICEF's call for Israel to reassess its rules of engagement to protect children, as mandated by international humanitarian law, and to allow adequate aid into Gaza; for Hamas and other armed factions to release all remaining hostages; for both sides to safeguard civilians and critical infrastructure; and for a ceasefire to be reinstated. She urged the international community to leverage their influence to resolve the ongoing catastrophic conditions in Gaza.
Point of View
It is crucial to highlight the humanitarian crisis in Gaza City, emphasizing the need for urgent global attention and intervention to protect vulnerable populations, especially children, amidst ongoing conflict.
NationPress
05/09/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current situation in Gaza City?
Gaza City is facing a severe humanitarian crisis with ongoing military offensives, leading to widespread fear and displacement among its residents.
How many children are affected by the current conditions?
Thousands of children are at risk of malnutrition and trauma due to the ongoing conflict and destruction of support systems.
What is UNICEF doing to help?
UNICEF is working to provide support to children in Gaza, but operations are hindered by the lack of funding and access to affected areas.
What is the international community's role?
The international community is urged to intervene, leverage their influence, and ensure humanitarian aid reaches those in need.
What are the calls to action from UNICEF?
UNICEF calls for a ceasefire, protection of civilians, and reassessment of engagement rules by Israel and Hamas to ensure the safety of children.
