Mothers’ Anguish: Gaza Conflict Leaves Thousands of Children Buried in 4 Months, UN Raises Alarm
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Mothers’ Anguish: Gaza Conflict Leaves Thousands of Children Buried in 4 Months, UN Raises Alarm
By Alabidun Shuaib AbdulRahman
In the midst of the ongoing conflict in Gaza, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) has issued a stark warning, highlighting the dire situation faced by women and children in the region, INCNews247 reports.
CEDAW expressed deep concern over the escalating violence, which has claimed the lives of thousands and displaced countless others, with women and children bearing the brunt of the crisis.
In a press release issued on Friday and obtained by INCNews247, the Committee revealed shocking statistics, including the burial of over 7,700 children in the past four months and the uncertainty faced by 5,500 pregnant women about the safety of childbirth within the next month.
“The very principles of the Convention protecting women and girls are challenged when mothers in the Gaza Strip have been put in a situation of burying at least 7,729 children in the past four months,” the Committee stated.
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The Committee called for an immediate and sustained ceasefire to halt the violence and destruction, emphasizing the need for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
It urged all parties to abide by international law and reaffirm their commitment to human rights, while also condemning the high toll of victims, particularly among women and children.
CEDAW further called on Israel to comply with the order of provisional measures from the International Court of Justice and ensure the provision of urgently needed humanitarian assistance to civilians, with a special focus on women’s and girls’ needs.
“The clock is ticking fast towards famine and an outbreak of epidemics,” the Committee warned. “The lives and health, physical and mental, of the women and girls of Gaza are severely compromised.”
In addition to immediate humanitarian action, the Committee emphasized the importance of women’s leadership in peace-building efforts, calling for reforms in the security architecture to guarantee women’s representation at decision-making levels.
The press release also called for the unconditional release of hostages held captive by Hamas and Palestinians arbitrarily detained by Israeli forces, while warning against further military offenses that could exacerbate the humanitarian crisis.
