Children in Gaza trapped in a cycle of suffering: Lack of clean water and sanitation, spread of infectious diseases, and the voices of despairing parents

May 29, 2026, Gaza/Geneva: Salim Oweis, spokesperson for UNICEF’s Middle East and North Africa Regional Office, reported on the dire situation of children in Gaza during a UN press briefing in Geneva. In Gaza, basic needs are not being met, and children are trapped in a cycle of suffering. Parents are devastated by their inability to protect their children's health, living in environments where they are bitten by rats, exposed to sewage leaks, and suffering from bacterial infections. Gaza is one of the most densely populated areas in the world, with people huddled among rubble and waste. Clean water is scarce, and water supply operations are severely hampered by attacks and restrictions on the import of repair materials. Consequently, respiratory infections, diarrhea, and skin diseases are rampant, and hospitals are non-functional. Malnutrition is also severe, with children at risk of falling back into a cycle of illness even after treatment. UNICEF is urgently calling for safe humanitarian access and the lifting of restrictions on materials needed to repair water and sanitation infrastructure.