Excessive Number of Casualties, Including Children: UN on the Situation in Gaza

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has reported that as a result of Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip during the night of March 18, more than 170 children have been killed. Among the 404 deceased, there are over 170 children and more than 80 women.

Rescue teams and ambulances have been unable to reach a significant number of the affected individuals due to a lack of equipment, fuel, and heavy machinery. The office emphasized that only four field hospitals are fully operational in the region, with 22 hospitals functioning, six field hospitals partially operational, while 13 hospitals and four field hospitals are completely non-functional due to destruction, staff shortages, and a lack of medicine.

The situation is disastrous; we have an excessive number of casualties, said Muhammad Abu Silmiya, director of Al-Shifa Hospital.