JOHANNESBURG (AFP) — The UN Children's Fund said Wednesday that children caught up in the Israeli offensive in Gaza were bearing the brunt of the crisis, with over 300 killed in less than a month.
"Each day more children are being hurt, their small bodies wounded, their young lives shattered. This is tragic. This is unacceptable," said UNICEF executive director Ann Veneman in a statement.
Over 1,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli attack on Gaza, the majority of whom are civilians caught in the crossfire as Israel attempts to root out Islamist Hamas elements in a bid to halt militant rocket attacks.
Veneman, speaking ahead of the launch of UNICEF's annual report in Johannesburg, added that absolute priority must be given to the protection of children who form the majority of the population of Gaza.
"They are bearing the brunt of a conflict which is not theirs. As fighting reaches the heart of heavily populated urban areas, the impact of lethal weapons will carry an even heavier toll on children."
Veneman urged unhampered humanitarian access, the protection of schools and medical facilities, and expressed concern over the long term psychological damage to children.
"The crisis in Gaza is singular in that children and their families have nowhere to escape, no refuge. The very thought of being trapped in a closed area is disturbing for adults in peace times. What then goes through the mind of a child who is trapped in such relentless violence?"
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon is currently in the Middle East appealing for a ceasefire and the unimpeded provision of humanitarian assistance throughout Gaza.
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