KUALA LUMPUR : Yesterday was World Children's Day - but as the world celebrated, in Gaza, a child fell victim to violence every 10 minutes.
The world has failed to protect the rights of children, said Chairman of the Consultative Council of Malaysian Islamic Organisations (Mapim) Mohd Azmi Abdul Hamid.
"A child falls victim to violence every 10 minutes in Gaza, exposing a distressing global failure to shield these innocent lives, " he said.
"The situation in Gaza is nothing short of terrifying. Over 1 million children in Gaza teeter on the brink of life and death.
Daily life for these children involves unsafe sleeping conditions, an inability to play outdoors, disrupted education, and limited access to essential medical care," Azmi said in a statement released today.
Azmi urgently implores the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) to take swift action in protecting the children of Gaza.
He emphasised the necessity for immediate actions holding Israel accountable for the mass killing of children.
Additionally, Mapim urges the United Nations Security Council to promptly deploy peacekeeping forces to Gaza.
The international community's failure to utilise available tools to halt the horrifying killings of infants and children in UN shelters and hospitals is glaring.
"On this World Children's Day, the message to over 5,000 children who lost their lives in the last 45 days of Israel's attacks on Gaza since October 7 is one of despair," he added.
Thousands of children in Gaza are now without homes, and many more are left injured, said Azmi.
The theme "For Every Child Every Right" holds little meaning for the children of Gaza, who have endured a complete blockade for the past 17 years.
