Morris O. Anyim, Country representative for World Initiative for Orphans (WIO), an international human rights organization, has expressed a big concern over the situation of children in the Gaza strip of Palestine.

Speaking in an interview with the Young Observer columnist at his office in Bakau last Sunday, the WIO Country rep said, since the fresh beginning of the war in December, over 300 children has lost their lives and over 250 has been left without a parental care. In spite of this, he added, the world should be made aware that these disturbing statistics are expected to rise in comparison to previous weeks or months. "The show of power these past few weeks has been met with intense violence from the settlers making it one of the bloodiest autumns in recent memory. The worst of it is that while this is happening, the world in general turns their eyes as if they do not know what is happening to the children in these troubled areas," he remarked.

"The conflict between Israel and Palestine has disproportionately affected children, who often find themselves directly in the line of fire in a war where neither side can seem to draw the line between civilian and combatant. The vast majority of these deaths came as a result of Israeli air and ground offensive on Gaza. The second most common cause of death is cited as 'random Israeli gunfire'. For the children in Palestine, they are faced with a lot of nightmares and bedwetting at home. This is normal because when a child sees that his parents are as scared as he is and are unable to control or stop a negative situation, he will become even more frightened or anxious," the WIO country representative revealed.

"The worst thing that can be done to an enemy is not to halt him, but to treat him indifferently which is showing inhumanity to mankind. This is what is happening to the children in Palestine. It is too sad to note that children in Palestine and Israel are not thinking of how to go to school rather they think over where to go, to avoid being hit by the gun of the so-called masters," Mr Anyim stated. He observed that even though Palestine is often cited as the most educated society in the Arab world, it is a very misleading notion.

He said in order to achieve the level of education that they have, incredible obstacles to their learning and access to learning have to be overcomed on a daily basis. "Classrooms are crowded, and the school day has been shortened dramatically to coincide with cuts in public funding resulting from the Israeli and international sanctions on Palestine following the 2006 election of Hamas," he further revealed.

The occupation, he added, which affects virtually every area of life in Gaza, has not made the education of children any easier. "Stories abound throughout the West Bank of children being hampered or harassed on their way to school by either the Israeli army or settlers. The school houses themselves, meant to be sanctuaries where children can feel safe, have often been the site of Israeli incursions or clashes between the army and militants," he observed.

"WIO wants to remind the world that the ongoing occupation of Gaza, and the humanitarian crisis which it entails, is an endless source of trauma in Palestine, especially among the children who lack the understanding and coping skills of adults. Furthermore, those adults who are mentally ill or affected by the occupation bring their traumas home where their wives and families bear the brunt," the WIO country representative remarked.

How long are we going to let the children of Palestine die? He asked."We know that a child has no voting right or determine what they what in the mix of the adult. It is our collective responsibilities to tell the armed powered nations that enough is enough to these atrocities and killing of innocent children who are the future of tomorrow," he concluded.