A/HRC/10/22 page 30 Annex SPECIAL REPORT ON GAZA AND SOUTHERN ISRAEL PREPARED BY THE SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL FOR CHILDREN AND ARMED CONFLICT 1. From the launch of “Operation Cast Lead” on 27th December 2008 until the ceasefire of 17 January 2009, the extensive Israel Defense Forces (IDF) led air and ground operations within Gaza 1,440 people were reported killed, including at least 314 children, as verified by the inter-agency working group, and 5,380 injured, including 1,872 children; up to 200,000 people, including 112,000 children, displaced and movement for the majority of the population severely restricted. In the closely built-up areas of Gaza it became increasingly difficult to obtain accurate and updated information. At times during the 22 days of bombardment, international and local media broadcasts were the only information available to humanitarian or human rights agencies. In periods when there was a lull in air or ground attacks, there were some opportunities for staff of human rights agencies to verify information being received. Since the ceasefire, capacity to verify information has improved and this report is compiled from reliable reports provided by the inter-agency Working Group member organisations. In Southern Israel it is reported that 3 Israelis were killed and 182 people injured, although specific information on children is currently unavailable. 2. Civilian targets, particularly homes and their occupants, appear to have taken the brunt of the attacks, but schools and medical facilities have also been hit. This is despite the fact that, in the case of UNWRA schools, GPS coordinates were provided to the IDF by UNWRA. 3. The intensity of Operation Cast Lead has resulted in many psychosocial difficulties for children; so much so that UNICEF has made psycho-social support one of its emergency priorities in Gaza. This is also true in southern Israel, where the days of conflict resulted in a high incidence of psycho-social complaints on the part of children there. Children killed and injured 4. 56 per cent of the 1.5 million population, of Gaza, are under the age of 18 years; the latest conflict and preceding 18 months of almost total blockade has had a massive impact on a generation of young people. The Palestinian Authority (PA) Ministry of Health (MoH) reports that at least 431 Palestinian children have been killed since 27th December 2008; independent monitors from the inter-agency working group have verified 314 cases of children killed to date. Work continues to verify final numbers. 5. Many children have been injured during the period of fighting and the PA MoH reports 1,855 children injured while independent monitors report at least 860 children have sustained injuries. Handicap International estimates that up to 50 per cent of people injured have sustained severe injuries that, without proper rehabilitation, could result in permanent disability. 6. During this period, the Magen David Adom, the national emergency medical, disaster, ambulance and blood bank service, reported that 3 Israelis were killed in Southern Israel and 182 people were injured by rocket fire from Gaza. The Inter-agency working group