Sierra Leone Statement At The UN Security Council Briefing On The Middle East Including The Palestine Question – “Children And Armed Conflict”

STATEMENT BY:
H.E. DR. MICHAEL IMRAN KANU
AMBASSADOR & PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE

1. I thank you President for convening this briefing at the request of the Russian Federation, supported by Algeria, Pakistan and Somalia, focused on the deeply alarming situation of children in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
2. I also thank Tom Fletcher, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, for his invaluable briefing, as well as Ms. Bisan Nateel for her compelling contribution.
3. Sierra Leone commends UN Agencies and other partners on the ground in the Gaza Strip for their tireless efforts to protect and support children affected by the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip and in the West Bank.
4. Sierra Leone stands in solidarity with every child affected by this conflict, those who have tragically been killed, those buried under rubble, those maimed and injured, those held hostage or captive for months without proper care, and those who have been orphaned.
5. Let us remember these children not only with sorrow but also with renewed determination to resolve the conflict that has caused them such immense suffering.

Mr. President,

6. At the heart of the conflict in Gaza are the civilians who bear the brunt of this violence. Today’s briefings have underscored the profound impact the conflict is having on children, many of whom have known only a life of violence and insecurity. The current ceasefire, while bringing some relief, cannot mask the dire conditions that these children continue to face.
7. For over a year, children in Gaza have endured unimaginable hardship, deprivation, bombardment, and displacement. Since October 7, 2023, it is reported that at least 14,500 children have lost their lives, with an estimated 25,000 Over 17,000 children have been separated from their parents, and nearly one million have been displaced from their homes. Many are still unaccounted for.
8. Disturbing reports indicate that newborns have died from harsh winter conditions, inadequate shelter, and the unavailability of life-saving formula. These numbers add to the 1,434 Palestinian children killed and 32,175 injured between 2008 and October 6, 2024, as per UNHCR.
9. The relentless attacks on densely populated areas, the constant displacement, and the disruption of essential services have subjected countless children to grave violations of their rights, killing, maiming, and the destruction of schools, hospitals, water and energy infrastructure. The targeting of schools, now used as shelters, has left children with no safe spaces for learning or recovery. This has contributed to the erosion of the social fabric of a once resilient society.
10. The effects of this war on children will endure long after the fighting stops, leaving lasting physical and psychological scars. As the ongoing situation in Gaza continues to highlight the vulnerability of children in conflict zones, it is essential that we take urgent and effective action to safeguard this generation from further calamity. In this regard, Sierra Leone would like to emphasize the following points:
11. First, we urge all parties to fully adhere to the ceasefire agreement and take all necessary steps to protect children’s rights. Attacks on schools and hospitals must cease immediately. The Safe Schools Declaration must be upheld. With the ceasefire in place, humanitarian agencies and partners are scaling up efforts to address the health and psychosocial needs of children, including specialized protection services for unaccompanied children. This vital work must be supported and expanded as part of Gaza’s rebuilding process and the broader reconstruction of the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
12. Second, in accordance with Security Council Resolution 2712 (2023), we call on all parties to comply with their obligations under international law for the protection of children in armed conflict, including the Geneva Conventions, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and all relevant legal frameworks. The adoption of Resolution 2712 by this Council acknowledges the disproportionate impact on children and demands that all parties ensure children receive the special protection they are entitled to under international law.
13. Third, in line with Resolution 2720 and other relevant resolutions, Sierra Leone reiterates the call for Israel, as the occupying power, to ensure the safe, sustained, and unimpeded access of humanitarian aid into Gaza. We welcome the entry of approximately 2,400 aid trucks since the beginning of the truce and encourage further support for these efforts.
14. We also call on all parties to support humanitarian organizations in facilitating the emergency medical evacuation of critically injured civilians, including thousands of children. The risk posed by explosive remnants of war remains high, and we urge all stakeholders to ensure the safe disposal of these ordnances to prevent further harm to civilians, especially children.
15. Last but not least, we reaffirm the critical role of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in meeting the humanitarian needs of the civilian population in Gaza, particularly in providing education, health services, and psychosocial support for children. Rebuilding educational infrastructure must be a top priority to ensure that children can resume learning in a safe environment that fosters both academic development and emotional healing.
16. In conclusion, it is imperative that we strengthen accountability mechanisms for violations of children’s rights, including holding perpetrators accountable for attacks on schools and hospitals, the denial of humanitarian access, and the use of sexual violence against children in conflict. We call for the release of children being held in detention camps and for full and impartial investigations into their detention.
17. As we welcome the ceasefire as a crucial step toward rebuilding Gaza and addressing the immediate needs of its children, we also urge swift action to end the ongoing military operations in the West Bank, which have resulted in fatalities and injuries. Reports of violence between settlers and Palestinian communities must be addressed to ensure that the ceasefire leads to lasting peace and stability.

I thank you.