UNICEF warns of rising child mortality in Gaza, calls for facilitating aid entry

New York: The United Nations Children s Fund (UNICEF) called Friday for the urgent opening of all crossings to allow food aid into the Gaza Strip, war...

New York: The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) called Friday for the urgent opening of all crossings to allow food aid into the Gaza Strip, warning of the risk of rising child mortality due to weak immunity.

UNICEF spokesperson Ricardo Perez said in press statements: "The situation is critical, and we are facing a sharp rise in child mortality, not only among newborns, but also among infants, as their immunity is weaker than ever."

Perez added: "Children's immunity is low because they have not received adequate nutrition, and recently they have not eaten at all, for a very long time."

He said : "As for children, they need the appropriate vitamins and nutrients for growth and the ability to adapt to temperature changes or viral outbreaks."

UNICEF has confirmed that nutrition support is a top priority, as 50,000 children in the Gaza Strip are at risk of severe malnutrition and require immediate treatment.