He stressed UNICEF’s unwavering commitment to the wellbeing of children amidst the politically intricate context of the Israel-Hamas conflict.
“The situation between Israel and Hamas is undeniably complex from a political perspective. However, for an organisation like UNICEF [the United Nations Children’s Fund], our stance is unequivocal: we stand with the children,” Heber asserted during the Wednesday morning interview.
Heber expressed his deep concern over the alarming rate at which children are losing their lives in this conflict, stating; “It’s appalling.”
He revealed that within a span of two weeks, “more than 2,300 children have lost their lives, and over 5,300 have been injured.” And these are just the figures that have been verified. Heber stressed that “every day there are 400 more.”
UNICEF is currently operating on a “stay and deliver” basis, i.e., “stay where you are, even if it’s dangerous, and deliver aid.” However, Heber highlighted a critical issue: petrol supplies are expected to run out starting Wednesday.
This scarcity could lead to hospitals being unable to function due to the lack of power for essential equipment, including breathing apparatus and incubators for newborns. In addition, the production of drinking water, which relies on desalination equipment and pumps, hinges on the availability of petrol.
Heber lamented that, at present, the people of Gaza are compelled to survive on just three litres of water per day, far below the minimum recommended daily requirement of 18 litres per person.
Heber also underscored the grave dangers faced by humanitarian workers in Gaza, noting that “45 humanitarian workers have already lost their lives on the ground.”
“We just need access, that’s the big problem,” according to Heber. He highlighted the limitations faced during the initial convoys, stating, “We only delivered 44,000 litres of water – that’s nothing.”
At present, the need has escalated to the point where “at least 100 lorries per day” are required. While UNICEF, an organisation with a long-standing presence in the Gaza Strip, maintains a significant inventory of essential supplies, the situation remains chaotic due to the influx of internal refugees within the small region.
The Gaza Strip is “like a big prison,” Heber said, explaining, “there’s no way to bring in aid, nor to get children out for medical care.”
Heber also emphasised that, despite being part of the United Nations, UNICEF operates without a dedicated budget. He stressed that financial support is currently the most efficient means of aiding the organisation’s efforts to address the pressing humanitarian needs in Gaza.
