Four children killed as separate attacks in Gaza destroy aid supplies

GAZA, KUALA LUMPUR, RAFAH, KEREM SHALOM, DEIR AL BALAH, 29 AUGUST 2026 —

Israeli military strikes in the Gaza Strip killed four children and destroyed critical humanitarian aid supplies during a week marked by renewed violence, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported on Friday.

The UN emergency relief agency highlighted that the recent escalation has resulted in significant civilian casualties and damage to humanitarian operations. OCHA stated that ongoing air strikes and other attacks across the Gaza Strip have continued to pose severe risks to the population. The agency emphasized that civilians and civilian objects, including humanitarian facilities and infrastructure, must always be protected under international law.

This warning comes as reports of civilian casualties and damage persist, challenging the stability promised by the recent ceasefire.

UNICEF provided specific details on the human toll, confirming that the four children killed were aged between two and 16 years old. The agency noted that these deaths resulted from separate strikes, with one child dying from wounds sustained in the previous week. In addition to the fatalities, UNICEF reported that five other children, aged eight to 17, were hit by live fire or shrapnel following strikes on Tuesday.

These five children suffered life-changing injuries, adding to the growing number of severe casualties among the region’s youth.

Beyond the loss of life, the attacks inflicted substantial economic and logistical damage on humanitarian supply chains. A warehouse belonging to a UN partner was heavily damaged by a nearby strike last week, an incident that destroyed more than $770,000 worth of nutrition supplies. UNICEF stated that these supplies were specifically intended to support more than 45,000 children, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers.

The destruction of these resources represents a significant setback for food security efforts in the region, forcing agencies to reassess their distribution capabilities and seek alternative funding or procurement methods.

Critical water infrastructure also suffered severe damage, further straining the region’s capacity to provide basic services. On Monday, a UNICEF-supported water well and desalination facility in Deir al Balah was severely damaged by a nearby strike. This facility served more than 4,000 people, and its destruction has disrupted water access for the local population.

In response, humanitarian partners are now providing water from other sources by truck, a measure that is both costly and logistically complex. The damage to water infrastructure underscores the vulnerability of essential services in conflict zones and the long-term implications for public health and sanitation.

The threat of explosive ordnance remains a persistent danger for both civilians and humanitarian workers. OCHA reported that an explosive munition detonated approximately 30 meters from a UN convoy on Thursday. The convoy was returning with fuel from the Kerem Shalom crossing as it crossed the so-called “Yellow Line” in Rafah. Fortunately, the explosion did not result in casualties, causing only a minor mechanical issue involving one of the vehicles in the convoy.

However, the incident highlights the ongoing risks associated with unexploded ordnance in the area.

The UN and its partners are actively working across Gaza to address the risks posed by explosive ordnance. These efforts include assessing and marking hazards, educating the public on safety measures, and referring those affected for support. However, OCHA noted that the authorization needed to bring in specialized equipment and remove explosive ordnance has not yet been granted.

This bureaucratic or political hurdle impedes the ability of humanitarian agencies to fully mitigate the dangers posed by unexploded munitions, leaving communities at continued risk.

Medical evacuation efforts continue to be a critical component of the humanitarian response. The World Health Organization (WHO) supported the evacuation of 106 patients, including 19 children, along with 132 companions from the Gaza Strip through the Rafah and Kerem Shalom crossings over the last week. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that since October 2023, over 13,000 patients and more than 16,000 companions have been evacuated.

Despite these efforts, thousands of patients are still awaiting medical evacuations. Ghebreyesus emphasized that to ensure timely treatment for patients, medical evacuations require sustained access through multiple crossing routes, underscoring the need for continued and reliable humanitarian access in the region.