Unicef warns of risk to children

The United Nations agency for children warned that arms and explosives left behind after Israel's planned withdrawal from the Gaza Strip posed an acute danger to the young and urged caution.

Unicef urged that children be kept out of harm's way to prevent more deaths. In the nearly five years since a Palestinian uprising broke out, 829 children under 18 have died, 713 of those Palestinian, it said.

"There will be weapons, there might be explosives, in this area," said Unicef spokesman Marc Vergara at a media briefing. "They might find unexploded ordnance. That's the danger."

Israel intends to evacuate all of its 21 enclaves in Gaza and four of 120 in the West Bank starting next Wednesday, the first removal of settlements from land Palestinians want for a state.

If Israel's "disengagement plan" does not proceed peacefully, children could be in danger, the agency said.

"We remind all participants in the exercise to pay special care to the needs of children," he added.

Unicef has sent emergency supplies to address potential health, education, water and sanitation needs of women and children in the area. It has started working through schools and community agencies to teach children how to protect themselves from unexploded mines or other devices.

Half of the population in Gaza is under the age of 18, Unicef said.

"Palestinian and Israeli children have suffered terribly over recent years as a result of this conflict," Unicef head Ann Veneman said in a statement.