By Echoes of a past tragedy cast a long shadow as the United Nations (UN) issued a stark warning about the perilous plight of children in Gaza. UNICEF Spokesperson James Elder, haunted by lessons learned during the Sri Lankan war, drew a chilling parallel: “The Gaza Strip,” he declared, “is the most dangerous place in the world to be a child.”
Elder’s voice trembled with urgency as he recounted the recent shelling of Al Nasser Hospital, Gaza’s sole remaining fully functioning facility. This act of violence, he emphasized, wasn’t an isolated incident. It exemplified the relentless brutality facing Gazan children—not just on battlefields but even in so-called “safe zones.”
“These zones,” Elder asserted, “are a fallacy. Unilaterally declared and lacking fundamental resources like medical care, food, and water, they offer no true refuge.” His words resonated with the UN’s earlier pronouncement: “Under international law, safe zones must ensure survival, not merely claim it.”
The subtext of Elder’s message was clear: inaction in Gaza risked echoing the horrors of Sri Lanka. The UN, haunted by past failures, now implored the world to heed the chilling cries of Gazan children, their innocence hanging precariously in the balance.
