ISTANBUL, Tuesday, April 9, 2024 (WAFA) – James Elder, spokesperson for the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), has stated that Gaza, home to 2.3 million Palestinians, is "on the brink of destruction and famine."

Elder explained to Anadolu Agency that "Palestinians are struggling to survive under extremely harsh conditions."

He added, "There was great hope for a ceasefire following the resolution of the United Nations Security Council, and everywhere I went in Gaza, ceasefire was the most common plea people made, they begged for it. So, there was hope, but that hope was crushed by the sound of bombs."

Elder said that Israeli warplanes carried out strikes on the city of Rafah, which had previously been declared a safe zone, just two days after the UN Security Council resolution calling for a ceasefire.

He continued, "I was at a hospital in Rafah and there were children with serious injuries due to the bombardment, despite the ceasefire resolution, the bombing continues incessantly throughout the day."

He added, "This resolution must be implemented, we need to ensure a ceasefire so that children and families who have endured this pain for several months know that they will indeed be able to wake up in the morning."

M.N