About 17,500 children killed in Gaza crisis: authority

China

About 17,500 children killed in Gaza crisis: authority

2024-11-20 14:25 Last Updated At：18:27

Approximately 17,500 children have been killed in Gaza amid the ongoing Israeli attacks, with thousands more at risk of death from starvation, Gaza-based health authorities said in a statement released on Tuesday, one day ahead of World Children's Day.

The Palestinian death toll from the crisis in Gaza has risen to 43,972, with more than 104,008 injured, according to health authorities' statement on Tuesday.

A total of 211 newborns were killed during the Israeli forces' operation, and 825 infants under the age of one have been killed.

More than 35,000 children are living without one or both parents, and about 3,500 children are facing death due to malnutrition.

Since the outbreak of a new round of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in October last year, more than 95 percent of schools in the Gaza Strip have been partially or completely destroyed, according to UNICEF.

At least 87 percent of schools in Gaza need extensive reconstruction to resume operations, and at least 658,000 school-age children have been disconnected to formal learning activities, the UN agency said earlier this month.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) posted on social media on Tuesday that over 100 schools in Gaza are sheltering displaced families, leaving countless children without access to education.

"An entire generation's future is at stake – education is their right, not a privilege," UNRWA said in its post.

Meanwhile, Israeli military attacks in Lebanon have killed 200 children in just two months, James Elder, spokesman of the UNICEF said on Tuesday.

The children's situation has become much the same as the case in Gaza, with the intolerable quietly transforming into the acceptable, the spokesman said.

Chinese, Pakistani militaries to hold joint anti-terrorism exercise

2024-11-20 17:23 Last Updated At：17:37

The Western Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army have sent troops to Pakistan to participate in a joint anti-terrorism exercise from late November to mid-December.

Coded "Warrior-VIII," the exercise will focus on joint counter-terrorism clean-up and strike operations.

This year's exercise is the eighth joint exercise of the series between the Chinese and Pakistani militaries, with the aim to consolidate and deepen practical exchanges and cooperation, as well as enhance the capability for conducting joint counter-terrorism operations.

The final group of Chinese troops participating in the exercise arrived in Pakistan via air delivery on Monday, marking that all the participating troops now are at the designated area.

"By taking advantage of the opportunity of joint air delivery, we carried out specialized intensive training of the troops, focusing on improving their joint delivery capabilities including refined measurement, containerized loading and formation under combat conditions," said Zhu Zhenlong, a military official engaged in the exercise.

More than 300 Chinese troops are taking part in the exercise. The two sides will engage in multi-level and mixed training across various specialties, and organize live troop drills in accordance with the actual combat process.

"This joint exercise exemplifies the strong trust and deep friendship between the two countries and their militaries. We will focus on the theme of joint anti-terrorism and continue to deepen exchanges with the Pakistani side in this field. We will work with the Pakistani military to analyze new trends and characteristics of terrorism and develop effective countermeasures," said Deng Yajun, a military official engaged in the exercise.