UN: 7,729 children buried in Gaza in 4 months, 5,500 women awaiting safe deliveries

CAIRO – 17 February 2024: The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) highlighted practices contradicting the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women of 1979 in Gaza.

In a statement on Friday, CEDAW noted that mothers had to bury at least 7,729 children over the past 4 months in light of the ongoing war.

Moreover, 5,500 women in Gaza are not sure whether they would be able to deliver their children safely within next month in Gaza, the Committee warned.

CEDAW called for an immediate and sustained ceasefire in Gaza to stop the bloodshed and destruction of infrastructure and property.

The Committee appealed for a constructive peace dialogue between Palestinian and Israeli leaderships.

“The Committee deplores the high toll of victims and calls upon all parties to the conflict to abide by the rule of law, international humanitarian law and international human rights law,” the statement read.

CEDAW shed light on the tragedy of over one million Palestinian women and girls who were displaced forcibly more than once. Moreover, women and children reportedly account for around 70 percent of Palestinians killed in Gaza, the Committee added.

Furthermore, the Committee warned against a potential Israeli offensive in Rafah city in Gaza, which is the last refuge for more than half of Gaza’s 2.3 million population.

“The Committee warns against any pending and potential military offenses and incursions into the already limited land space of Rafah where hundreds of thousands of forcibly displaced persons, predominantly women and children, are seeking refuge.”

CEDAW called for the UN Security Council to intervene to ensure an immediate and full cessation of the war in Gaza to pave the way for lasting security and peace across the region.