MOSCOW, August 7 (RIA Novosti) - The conflict in Gaza has killed 408 children and injured 2,502, while another 373,000 have suffered traumatic experiences and need psychological support, the head of the UNICEF office in Gaza, Pernille Ironside, said during telephone press briefing, the New York Times reported.
“There isn’t a single family in Gaza which hasn’t been touched by direct loss. The impact that has on the ability of children to cope cannot be overstated,” Ironside said.
Children account for 31 percent of the civilian deaths in Gaza during the conflict, with about 70 percent of them under the age of 13.
Earlier, Ironside said “We see children killed, injured, mutilated and burnt, in addition to being terrified to their core. The consequences run much deeper than previous flare-ups.”
According to the UNICEF manager, children have seen amputations and maimings, and some have even seen their friends or parents die. Ironside argued that Gaza children will bear lasting emotional and physical scars.
"The efforts needed to help these children are a very huge task for the teams that have already arrived on the ground. But of course we are committed to doing our work no matter how long it takes," Ironside said.
United Nations agencies are not coping well with the amount of people requiring help. About 270,000 people have sought shelter at centers run by the UN, with at least 200,000 of them staying in the houses of friends, relative or neighbors, while some have taken shelter in public schools.
According to the official UN website, over 130 schools in Gaza have been destroyed by air strikes or shelling, about 50 percent of Gaza is considered dangerous.
Damage was also inflicted on Gaza’s power and water infrastructure, leading to acute water shortages for weeks. Clean water is only used for drinking, as there is not enough for basic hygiene.
Israel launched its Gaza offensive on July 8, targeting the Hamas movement and its allied groups of rebels.
At least 1,800 Palestinians have been killed since the conflict started, while the Israeli side has lost 67 people.
A 72-hour ceasefire agreed with the help of Egypt’s mediation went into effect Tuesday morning.
On Wednesday, an Israeli official confirmed that Israel has conditionally agreed to extend the ceasefire beyond the Friday deadline, but did not give any particular details.
An Israeli delegation is currently in Cairo negotiating a more permanent agreement along with a Palestinian delegation including members of Hamas and the Islamic Jihad Movement.
