At a press briefing in Geneva on 19 January, upon the conclusion of her visit to Gaza, a UNICEF Communication Specialist stated: “In the 105 days of this escalation in the Gaza Strip, nearly 20,000 babies have been born into war. That’s a baby born into this horrendous war every 10 minutes. Mothers face unimaginable challenges in accessing adequate medical care, nutrition, and protection before, during and after giving birth. Becoming a mother should be a time for celebration. In Gaza, it's another child delivered into hell. Humanity cannot allow this warped version of normal to persist any longer. Mothers and newborns need a humanitarian ceasefire.”
Read the full report: Hostilities in the Gaza Strip and Israel | Flash Update #98
Through humanitarian support, 15 bakeries have become operational in Gaza, but none of them is in the centre or the north. The capacity of humanitarian agencies to operate safely and effectively remains compromised by the intensity of hostilities, recurrent denials of access to areas north of Wadi Gaza, and longstanding restrictions on the import of critical equipment. Photo by WHO, 6 January 2024
