For four months, Israel has been killing children in Gaza not only with bombs, missiles, and bullets. Israel is also using starvation, freezing, and infectious disease as weapons of war. The exact numbers are impossible to report as the genocide continues.

But here are a few facts we wanted to share with you to understand what is going on in Gaza today.

– Gaza is facing a famine. Despite months of dire warnings, Israel is still restricting the amount of aid and access to reach families in need, especially in northern Gaza.

– Israel attacked an aid truck on the road to northern Gaza and attacked people collecting aid in Gaza City, while Israeli citizens amass at one of only two crossings into Gaza to block aid trucks. The U.S. and other western governments cut off funds to the UN agency that is the major source of food.

– Diseases like Hepatitis A spread rapidly though makeshift refugee camps where there may be one latrine for 500 people, no water for washing, and no medical care.

– Newborns are dying of diarrhea, hypothermia, dehydration and infection.

– 17,000 children in Gaza are estimated to be unaccompanied because they were orphaned or separated from their parents and guardians during the displacement.

– 75% of Gaza’s population of 2.3 million people, more than half of whom are children, are displaced. In Rafah, many families are living in makeshift structures, tents, or out in the open.

– More than 4,660 students and 239 educational staff have been killed and more than 8,109 students and 756 teachers have been injured in the Gaza Strip since 7 October. Hundreds of schools have been damaged and destroyed. And children have not attended school for 4 months.

It is hard, after four months, not to be completely overwhelmed by the genocidal war on the people of Gaza. Thousands of children have been killed. But think of the children that are still alive in these dire conditions. Then take action to stop the genocide.

In solidarity,
All of us at MECA

P.S. While MECA staff, volunteers, and partners are working unbelievably hard to get aid to displaced children and families in Gaza every day, we urge you to take action.