'14,000 children in Gaza may perish within 48 hours'! Alarmed UN warns catastrophe at hand
Gaza Strip has been devastated to the ground by Israel's repeated military attacks. The casualty from the relentless bombing is rising day by day. There has also been a severe food shortage. In such an environment, the United Nations stated that 14,000 children may die within the next 48 hours unless relief supplies reach Gaza!
The Dire Need for Aid in Gaza
UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher said Gaza needed humanitarian aid. Israel declared on Sunday that it would ship "limited" food and humanitarian supplies to Gaza. Israel permitted five trucks of aid into Gaza on Monday after 11 weeks. But for Fletcher, the delivery of aid is "a drop in the ocean of urgent needs." The devastated area is inhabited by an estimated 2.1 million, among which half are children. The UN is concerned that only five trucks of aid will fall short of their needs.
Urgent Call for Unhindered Aid Delivery
"Gaza needs an inrush of humanitarian aid right now," Fletcher said. "Though tons of aid have been delivered, it has not yet been given to the people of Gaza because the trucks are stranded on the border. Among the aid is children's food. If that aid doesn't reach them, 14,000 children will be dead within the next 48 hours. We are attempting to deliver another 100 trucks to Gaza today. But we are being obstructed at every turn." Fletcher further stated that the United Nations is prepared to make any type of risk in order to provide food for the children.
Growing International Pressure on Israel
At the same time, international pressure on Israel to end the assault on Gaza has grown stronger. None of the 'friendly' nations stood with Israel since the beginning of the new Gazan military operation. This was confessed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday. That is the tone in which Britain, France and Canada have also threatened that unless Israel halts the Gaza military campaign and blocks humanitarian aid into the enclave, then 'strong action' will be initiated.
