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| [PHOTO: UNifeed] |
Gaza City: Palestinians are inspecting the damage done to homes by the
bombardment of Gaza City—a conflict which lasted more than a week.
The violence claimed the lives of more than 140
Palestinians, including 26 children,and five Israelis.
As residential neighborhoods were targeted Palestinian
families sought shelter in centrally located schools.
Recalling the events, Yasser Abed Rabbo says, "They started firing missiles and destroying people's
houses. They distributed leaflets asking us to leave our houses and we were
very scared for our lives."
A ceasefire is now in effect but the conflict displaced more
than ten thousand Palestinians and injured more than twelve hundred.
"I was seeing children who have been injured by the
conflict, and children on ventilators, children bruised, their bruised bodies
and they were very much suffering," says Diane Araki, Chief of UNICEF Field Office in Gaza.
It's estimated that at least 213 homes were destroyed or
seriously damaged during the attack and more than 1500 have sustained minor
damage.
The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child on Thursday (22
November) said that the conflict between Hamas and Israel is having a
"devastating and lasting impact" on children, stressing that the
recent crisis would have long-term psychological effects on youth.
"This impact extends from a large number of deaths and
injuries in Gaza to deep trauma and other psychological effects on children on
both sides of the border," the Committee said. "These experiences may
affect them for many years to come, including into adulthood." -UNifeed