Gaza - Saba:
Marwan Al-Hams, Director General of Field Hospitals in Gaza, revealed that more than 16,000 children have been martyred in the Gaza Strip since the beginning of the Zionist genocide crime on October 7, 2023.
During a press conference on Monday, Al-Hams stated that this means a child has been martyred every 40 minutes over the past 17 months.
He added that 908 Palestinian children were killed before reaching their first birthday, while 311 others were born and later martyred during the Zionist genocide in Gaza.
Al-Hams highlighted documented cases of Palestinian children being killed while attempting to obtain food rations from charity kitchens, targeted by direct Zionist army shelling.
He emphasized that the Zionist siege and the closure of crossings for over two months have severely worsened health conditions, with primary healthcare centers shut down due to bombardment or their location in evacuation zones. This has deprived thousands of children and pregnant women of essential medical care.
Al-Hams noted that 51% of medicines related to women’s and children’s health are now unavailable, particularly nutritional supplements, vitamins, vaccines, and infant formula.
He also pointed out that polio vaccines remain blocked from entry, threatening to undermine the preventive efforts made by the Health Ministry.
Al-Hams added that relying on a single inadequate meal per day has caused severe malnutrition and wasting among many children, "while they are deprived of safe drinking water and nutritious food due to the enemy’s targeting of infrastructure and blocking of humanitarian aid."
For the 49th consecutive day, the Israeli enemy forces continue their genocide and starvation campaign against civilians in Gaza, alongside a suffocating siege, with all crossings closed , medicine, humanitarian aid, and food supplies prohibited from entering.
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