UNICEF warns children may begin to die of 'man-made drought' soon in Gaza
UNICEF said Gaza now faces a "man-made drought," warning that if an ongoing fuel blockade of over 100 days is not lifted, "children will begin to die of thirst."
The United Nations' children's agency, UNICEF, warned on Friday that children in Gaza may soon begin to die of thirst, amid a collapse of the enclave's water systems.
"Currently just 40 per cent of drinking water production facilities remain functional in Gaza (87 out of 217)," UNICEF said on Friday. "Without fuel, every one of these will stop operating within weeks."
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UNICEF said Gaza now faces a "man-made drought," warning that if an ongoing fuel blockade of over 100 days is not lifted, "children will begin to die of thirst."
The UN body also reported a 50 per cent increase in children between the ages of six months and five years old suffering from acute malnutrition between April and May.
"Because this is man-made, it can be stopped. None of these problems are logistical or technical. They are political. Denial has become policy. If there is political will, the water crisis will be eased overnight," UNICEF said.
Dozens killed while seeking aid
Meanwhile, at least 25 people were killed by Israeli fire while seeking aid in the Gaza Strip on Friday, local health authorities told news agencies.
Those killed were seeking aid at an Israeli-controlled piece of land known as the Netzarim Corridor, which bisects the strip, civil defence spokesman Mahmoud Basal told France's AFP news agency.
The Israeli military told AFP its troops first fired "warning shots" at "suspects" approaching them, before "an aircraft struck and eliminated the suspects to remove the threat" when they continued advancing.
Basal added that five more people were killed while awaiting aid in southern parts of Gaza.
Such incidents have become increasingly common since the US and Israel-supported Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) was put in charge of aid distribution.
The United Nations does not work with the foundation, which it has criticised harshly.
The UN's OCHA humanitarian agency has warned that Gaza's entire population of 2 million is at risk of famine. Israel had cut off aid entering Gaza for two months, saying supplies were helping Hamas, who continue to control the enclave, but it has since come under international pressure to allow more aid in.
Since Israel resumed strikes on Gaza in March, more than 5,400 people have been reported killed.
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