Humanitarian Engineering
What is the current situation for children in Gaza despite the ceasefire?
Despite the end of bombings and bullets after 15 months of conflict, children in Gaza continue to suffer from an ongoing humanitarian crisis. While their lives may no longer be threatened by direct violence, the cessation of fighting hasn't resolved the fundamental humanitarian challenges they face. As UNICEF Communications Manager Tess Ingram explains, the humanitarian crisis persists even in the absence of active warfare. More than 1.1 million children still lack access to adequate shelter, safe water, and essential healthcare services, creating conditions of continued suffering despite the formal ceasefire.
Watch clip answer (00:12m)
Al Jazeera English
01:10 - 01:22
What are the key issues in the Gaza ceasefire negotiations taking place in Cairo?
Israeli negotiators are in Cairo discussing the implementation of the Gaza ceasefire agreement, but significant challenges remain. Israel is still blocking the entry of critical humanitarian supplies that were promised under the deal, specifically mobile shelters and heavy equipment needed in the Strip. These resources are essential for the devastated population, where over 70% of buildings are destroyed and children lack basic necessities like shelter and clean water. This obstruction of aid delivery represents a major obstacle in fulfilling the terms agreed upon in the ceasefire deal and addressing the humanitarian crisis.
Watch clip answer (00:13m)Al Jazeera English
00:01 - 00:15
What would it mean for the children in Gaza if the ceasefire fails and the war resumes?
If the ceasefire fails, Gaza's children would return to a devastating situation where they were being killed in supposed 'safe zones,' dying from malnutrition in their mothers' arms, suffering in hospitals, and even being crushed to death while waiting for basic necessities like flour. Before the ceasefire, children faced extreme dangers and deprivation, with no truly safe spaces. UNICEF emphasizes that a return to conflict would mean reverting to these horrific conditions, which is why maintaining the ceasefire is critically important for protecting over a million children in Gaza from further violence and suffering.
Watch clip answer (00:38m)
Al Jazeera English
03:21 - 04:00
What challenges are facing the implementation of the Gaza ceasefire agreement?
The implementation of the Gaza ceasefire agreement faces significant challenges as Israeli negotiators meet in Cairo to discuss its continuation. Israel is currently blocking the entry of essential supplies that were agreed upon under the deal, specifically mobile shelters and heavy equipment needed for Gaza. This obstruction occurs amid a humanitarian crisis where approximately 70% of buildings have been destroyed, leaving over 1.1 million children in desperate need of shelter, water, and healthcare. The restrictions on aid entry are exacerbating the already dire situation, making it difficult for organizations like UNICEF to provide necessary assistance to the affected population.
Watch clip answer (00:13m)
Al Jazeera English
00:01 - 00:15
Why is it important for the ceasefire in Gaza to hold?
The ceasefire is imperative because it enables aid to continue flowing to meet children's basic needs after 15 months of deprivation. It ensures children don't return to fearing for their lives in an environment where no safe place exists in Gaza. UNICEF has been able to scale up its response due to the ceasefire, allowing them to deliver essential support to 1.1 million children. If the ceasefire fails, humanitarian work becomes significantly more difficult, which is why all parties are urged to adhere to its terms and work toward sustaining it into a longer-term peace.
Watch clip answer (00:52m)
Al Jazeera English
04:03 - 04:56
What impact did Donald Trump's decision to halt USAID have on communities in northern Syria?
Donald Trump's decision to halt USAID had far-reaching consequences for communities in northern Syria that were dependent on humanitarian assistance. The funding cuts severely affected medical services, leading to the shutdown of critical healthcare facilities including the Babel Hawa Hospital, which served vulnerable populations in the region. With over 7 million Syrians already displaced, these aid reductions exacerbated an existing humanitarian crisis, leaving families struggling to access essential services and survive. Medical aid workers and local populations faced immense challenges as the infrastructure supporting displaced and vulnerable Syrians began to collapse due to the sudden withdrawal of American support.
Watch clip answer (00:06m)
Al Jazeera English
02:28 - 02:34