Save Palestinian children

The escalation of hostilities in the Gaza Strip is having a catastrophic impact on children and their families. Children are dying at an alarming rate - more than 5,000 have reportedly been killed and thousands more injured. Well over 1.7 million people in Gaza have been displaced. And half of them are children. They do not have access to water, food, fuel and medicine. Their homes have been destroyed. Even wars have rules. No child should be cut off from essential services, nor be deprived of the humanitarian services. No child should be held hostage in an armed conflict. Hospitals and schools must be protected from bombings and they must not be used for military purposes, in accordance with international humanitarian law.

The endless violence has its physical as well as psychological consequences. It causes victim childrento experience trauma that shapes their formative years. The question of whether the lives of children in Palestine arebeing given short shrift by the warring parties should be answeredby the world leaders. It is time for the international community to address the stark reality of Palestinian children and fightfor their protection and well-being.

Abu Elias Linkon,

Banasree, Dhaka,

[email protected]