Palestinians face unrelenting devastation as 43,391 martyred, 102,337 injured in Gaza

By ESTHER ALEXANDER, Abuja –

A staggering 43,391 Palestinians have been martyred and 102,337 injured in Gaza, with the majority being children and women, over the course of 398 days of relentless violence.

The occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, has seen an additional 777 Palestinian lives lost in the last 13 months, according to a statement issued by the  Ambassador of Palestine Embassy in Nigeria, Abdullah M. Abu Shawesh.

The statement added that the humanitarian crisis is dire, with 11,923 students killed and 19,199 injured in the past year. The education sector has been severely impacted, with 341 school and university buildings targeted in military attacks, leaving 77 completely destroyed.

“Israel dropped 85 thousand tons of bombs on Gaza, exceeding those dropped in World War II, including internationally banned white phosphorus bombs.

“In just one year, the U.S. has spent at least $22.76 billion on military aid to Israel and related U.S. operations in the region.

“Citing the Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs “An estimated 90 percent of Gaza’s population … have been displaced and are living in temporary shelters, without cash to purchase basic necessities like food, clean water, and medicine. 96 percent of Gaza’s population faces acute levels of food insecurity, with 2.15 million people in crisis levels of hunger or worse.

“The amount of water available in Gaza is reduced by 94% to 4.74 liters a day per person – just under a third of the recommended minimum in emergencies and less than a single toilet flush.

“As of May {2024}, only 4 of Gaza’s 36 hospitals had not been damaged, destroyed, or raided. More than 880 healthcare workers have been killed”, it said

According to the statement, the situation is nothing short of catastrophic, with the international community urged to take immediate action to address this humanitarian crisis.