Gaza children suffer in wake of conflict

Jamilla, 15, was on a rooftop when a shell struck during the Israeli operation in Gaza. Her 10-year-old sister and cousin were killed. Jamilla lost both her legs and is learning to walk again with the help of crutches and prosthetic limbs.

The Ghaben family’s two story home was destroyed during the bombing, which began in December 2008. All 14 of them now live in three tents in Beit Lahia, north of Gaza City.

Shayma, 13, walks to school from the tent she lives in, in Gaza City. She says she finds it hard to study now. “I used to have a room only for me, I had pictures of Barbie all over my room. Now I’m sleeping with all my sisters and brothers,” she says.

Children play in the ruins in Jabaliya, Gaza city. Virtually all building materials are blocked from entering Gaza under an Israeli-Egyptian blockade, so reconstruction is stalled. Israel says Gaza’s Hamas rulers could use cement for military purposes.

Mother of six Sa’da was nine months pregnant when she fled her home as the Israeli operation began. Her Daughter Haijar was born in a freezing shelter, where she spent her first 18 days. The family still have not been able to replace their broken windows.

A boy sorts rubbish, gleaning what he can to sell as scrap. Thousands of livelihoods have been lost under the blockade and because of conflict damage. Israel says it has been targeting Hamas, which fires rockets at its southern towns, not civilians.

Mothers and babies at the Ard el-Ensan clinic for malnourished children. It is supported by Save the Children, which says malnutrition and anaemia have increased under the blockade.

Doha, Olfat’s nine-month-old baby is suffering from malnutrition and anaemia. She is half the weight a child her age should be. “We don’t have enough money to feed her,” says Olfat.

www.news.bbc.co.uk

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