14,000 babies in Gaza could die in next 48 hrs

The United Nations has issued a warning amid the severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza: if adequate aid does not arrive within the next 48 hours, nearly 14,000 children could be at risk of death.

In an interview with BBC Radio 4 in the UK, UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher expressed this concern. He said that the amount of aid Israel is allowing into Gaza is extremely limited and not enough to tackle the ongoing famine.

Fletcher explained that under international pressure, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has recently announced a slight easing of the aid blockade that has lasted for 11 weeks. However, this limited action has not brought any significant change on the ground.

He said, “Yesterday, only five aid trucks entered Gaza. Although they carried baby food and nutritional supplies, those items have still not reached the people. Instead, they are stuck near the border. This is like ‘a drop of water in the ocean’.”

When asked about the large number of children at risk, Fletcher said, “We have teams working in the field — many of whom have been killed in attacks — but those who are still alive are collecting vital information from hospitals, schools, and shelters.”

This UN warning once again highlights the devastating humanitarian disaster unfolding in Gaza. Fletcher said, “My goal is to save as many of these 14,000 children as possible in the next 48 hours.”

The United Nations has called on the international community to take urgent and effective action to ensure large-scale aid delivery immediately, in order to save the lives of Gaza’s suffering children.