NEW YORK (July 30, 2014) – “Another school in Gaza has come under fire, killing more children in a conflict where such an outrage has become commonplace. 

“For 23 days, too many children in Gaza have lived with fear and desperation. Water taps have run dry and raw sewage is running in the streets, while health workers try to save lives with little electricity and insufficient medicines.  At least 245 children have been killed since the conflict began.

“For 23 days, children in Israel have lived with the threat of indiscriminate attacks targeting their homes and neighborhoods.

“What hope is there for these children—and their societies—if adults no longer live up to their responsibility to protect them?  What are these children learning about how to behave when they are adults?

“For the sake of children, all sides to this conflict must come to their senses, permit humanitarian workers to aid those in need, and agree to end these attacks.  Now, before more innocent lives are lost—including the most innocent of all, the very young.” 

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About UNICEF

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) works in more than 190 countries and territories to save and improve children’s lives, providing health care and immunizations, clean water and sanitation, nutrition, education, emergency relief and more. The U.S. Fund for UNICEF supports UNICEF’s work through fundraising, advocacy, and education in the United States. Together, we are working toward the day when zero children die from preventable causes and every child has a safe and healthy childhood.

For additional information, please contact:

Susannah Masur, U.S. Fund for UNICEF, 212.880.9146, smasur@unicefusa.org