PernilleIronside

Hi Reb73, congrats on becoming a dad!

Emotions are essential for humanitarian workers – we cannot be effective if we are automatons desensitized from human suffering. We are human. I try to positively channel my emotions into even greater resolve, conviction, strength and deep empathy into everything we at UNICEF aim to achieve and everyone I meet in our work. I also have the unwavering support of friends and family to do what I am doing and to dig deeper when it gets tough.

Hi oekhedr - great question. Gaza's economy has been severely depressed, particularly since the closure of the informal tunnel system with Egypt in July 2013. Prior to this latest conflict, 41.5% of Gazans were unemployed; and that did not include those who worked only 1 hour per week. The unemployment rate for those under 29 was a staggering 59%; and 80% of the population was dependent on some form of humanitarian aid (e.g. food parcels). So, yes, even before this latest war, life in Gaza was extraordinarily difficult and bleak.

Hi! Thanks for your question and great to be here. You can be aware and informed; advocate for change; encourage your leaders to seek and find peaceful solutions; and donate to organizations that are saving lives. Go to: http://www.supportunicef.org/gaza

Hi daleygaga, thanks for your great questions!

To tackle this very complex emergency, the UN has set up a humanitarian Emergency Operations Centre in Gaza, under the capable leadership of UN-OCHA. It is here that UN agencies and other key humanitarian actors combine forces to do our utmost in terms of the emergency response. We also have an established humanitarian cluster system in Gaza that was active prior to this latest conflict. UNICEF is leading coordination of the water/sanitation and child protection sectors, and co-leading coordination of the education sector with Save the Children.

I am inspired on a daily basis by my colleagues - Palestinian humanitarians. Despite having been through 3 major wars, having themselves been shelled and needing to find safety and shelter for their families and friends, they somehow / somewhere find the strength to get up in the morning, cross all manner of obstacles and danger to selflessly provide much needed humanitarian relief. They are true humanitarian heroes!

Hi drsyed, in fact, 230 schools (90 UNRWA) have sustained damages from shelling and 25 schools have been completely destroyed or severely damaged and are now unusable. In addition, 6 UNRWA schools that were officially designated where thousands of civilians were seeking safety were struck by missiles, killing and injuring many children and their families.

Under international law, humanitarian relief personnel and objects used for relief operations (this would include UNRWA schools in Gaza being used as shelters), including hospitals and homes, are protected and therefore are not legitimate targets.

A transparent and effective investigation needs to be undertaken as soon as possible to look at potential violations of international humanitarian law by all parties to the conflict.