About 160 children being killed in Gaza every day: WHO

GENEVA

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday said on average about 160 children are being killed every day in Gaza, where Israeli attacks have reached one-month mark.

"An average of about 160 children are killed every day based on the figures of the (Palestinian) Ministry of Health," WHO official Christian Lindmeier told a UN briefing in Geneva.

Lindmeier reiterated the "urgent need" for a humanitarian pause to ease the suffering.

"People in Gaza are dying in their thousands, and those alive are suffering from trauma, disease, lack of food and water," he said. "They need water, fuel, food and safe access to healthcare to survive."

"Everything is set up," he said, noting that the logistics, the convoys and supplies are ready. But "what is not there is the is the access and that's what is needed. We need unhindered safe and secure access all the way to the patients and to the hospitals. Getting across into Gaza is one thing getting further to the hospitals and the supplies stations is the next step."

Regarding hospitals in the north, the official said the WHO was able to bring supplies to hospitals "once" only.

"The supplies have been literally ripped out of our hands and immediately brought to the operation rooms as everything which was brought in, including anesthesia, was necessary at that very moment in time," Lindmeier said.

Asked about Israel's claim that hospitals in Gaza are being targeted due to Hamas tunnels beneath them, he said: "As the WHO we cannot verify what is under the hospitals. What we can verify is what is in the hospitals and on above ground and these are urgently needed medical facilities."

The Gaza Strip has been under heavy bombardment since the Palestinian group Hamas launched a surprise offensive against Israel on Oct. 7.

At least 10,328 Palestinians, including 4,237 children and 2,719 women, have been killed since then. Israeli death toll, meanwhile, is nearly 1,600, according to official figures.

UN chief Antonio Guterres has said that "Gaza is becoming a graveyard for children," as hundreds of girls and boys are being killed or injured every day.

One month on, 70% of the Gaza population has been displaced, according to the UN agency for Palestinians UNRWA. "This comes with constant fear and inhumane living conditions for almost 1.5 million people. UNRWA shelters are 4x their full capacity. Civilians are being subjected to forced displacement & collective punishment," it said in a statement.