The conflict in Gaza, now over 20 weeks long, has been relentless. People have been forced further south, all the way to Rafah, the last part of Gazan territory before reaching the Egyptian border.
UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell.
UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell.
Danielle Deeb/UNICEF
The population of Rafah has recently surged from less than 300,000 to 1.4 million in a span of six weeks. This increase is due to desperate families, particularly young children, fleeing from violent situations in other areas of the territory seeking refuge.
Gazans seeking shelter in Rafah are now confronted with the frightening prospect of potential large-scale military operations in the very area where they have sought refuge. Despite the looming threat, they have no option to move farther north as there is no safe haven available.
Rafah, occupying a mere 25 square miles along the border with Egypt, now houses a population density twice that of New York City and more than four times that of Washington, DC. However, unlike their American counterparts, the residents of Rafah do not reside in high-rise buildings or townhomes. Instead, they are packed together in overcrowded hospitals and schools, with over 610,000 children among the trapped population, comprising about half of those displaced.
Gazans in Rafah facing extreme challenges are enduring harsh conditions during the cold and wet winter weather. They are forced to seek shelter side-by-side on the streets, under tents, and tarpaulins, making use of any available space to survive.
Israeli hostage Kfir Bibas.
Israeli hostage Kfir Bibas.
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Now this small section of Gaza, which has already endured a great deal of suffering, now confronts the possibility of further hardship and pain. Recent headlines have been dominated by reports of a potential upcoming offensive.
The densely populated area of Rafah lacks safe spaces, making any major military escalation, particularly involving the use of explosive weapons with indiscriminate effects, a devastating prospect for the civilian population, including the most vulnerable residents.
In other parts of Gaza, children and women are believed to make up 70% of the over 29,000 reported deaths in the past four months. A major assault on Rafah would significantly increase the already high number of casualties in Gaza. The violence could result in thousands more deaths and injuries, as well as a further deterioration of essential services. This would exacerbate the vulnerability of the civilian population and worsen the breakdown of law and order.
UNICEF's staff on the ground has seen firsthand the brutal atrocities of the war, with parties to the conflict shamelessly committing serious violations against children. These violations include killings, maimings, kidnappings, attacks on schools and hospitals, and obstructing humanitarian aid access.
Children with injuries are seeking treatment at the limited number of operational hospitals, presenting with severe burns, amputation-worthy injuries, open wounds, and other critical traumas.
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Rafah is home to some of Gaza’s last remaining hospitals, shelters, markets, and water systems — all of which are essential for children’s health and well-being. Without these resources, the incidence of hunger and disease will increase dramatically, costing more children their lives.
Even now, we estimate that at least 90% of Gaza’s children under the age of five are affected by one or more infectious diseases, and that 70% have had diarrhea in the past two weeks — a 23-fold increase compared with the 2022 baseline.
There are reportedly plans to evacuate civilians in Rafah ahead of a major military offensive. But where can they go? Much of Gaza has been reduced to rubble. Civilians cannot be forcibly displaced farther south. And they cannot, as some have suggested, reasonably move to Al-Mawasi, a Palestinian town on the southern coast of Gaza, because it is just a narrow strip of beach that lacks basic infrastructure including sufficient toilets and running water needed to sustain the population.
Most of the children in Rafah have already been displaced multiple times by the fighting in Gaza, in direct contravention of international law. We know that as the war enters its 20th week many are injured, sick and malnourished and will struggle to find the wherewithal to move yet again. We estimate that at least 17,000 children in Gaza are now unaccompanied or have become separated from their families, a number that would surely increase in the event of further population displacement.
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It is crucial to prevent any escalation of military actions in or around Rafah and to promptly and safely release all hostages remaining in Gaza. Failure to comply with this plea will result in the tragic loss of more innocent lives, adding to the already devastating toll of children who have lost their lives.
Parties involved in the conflict must promptly implement a lasting humanitarian ceasefire to facilitate the much-needed large-scale, collaborative operation by our group and other humanitarian organizations. It is crucial for the authorities to increase the flow of aid trucks across border checks, remove restrictions on the mobility of humanitarian personnel, and ensure the safety of individuals involved in the distribution and reception of aid.
The devastation in Gaza and the loss of innocent lives will not lead to peace or security in the region. True peace can only be achieved through a negotiated political resolution that places emphasis on the rights and well-being of present and future generations of Israeli and Palestinian children.
Editor's P/S:
The article paints a harrowing picture of the desperate situation in Rafah, Gaza, where over a million displaced people have sought refuge amidst the ongoing conflict. The sheer density of the population, coupled with the lack of safe havens and essential services, makes any further military escalation a catastrophic threat to civilians, especially children. The article's pleas for a humanitarian ceasefire and the safe release of hostages are both urgent and necessary.
The plight of the children in Gaza is particularly heartbreaking. They have already suffered immense trauma and displacement, and the prospect of further violence and deprivation is unimaginable. The international community must act swiftly to prevent a humanitarian disaster and hold those responsible for violations against children accountable. Only through a negotiated political resolution that prioritizes the well-being of all children can true peace and security be achieved in the region.
