TEHRAN- The 29th edition of Iran’s International Theater Festival for Children and Young Adults plans to dedicate a segment to honor the martyred children of Gaza, the organizers have announced. 

The festival aims to emphasize unity and awareness with tribute to martyred children of Gaza, killed by Israeli army, IRNA reported on Tuesday. 

The festival will carry the theme “Theater: A Dialogue Without Borders,” aimed at strengthening empathy and collaboration, fostering growth and awareness, and building the self-confidence of Iran's children through the art of theater in the historical city of Hamadan.

The festival's objectives also encompass achieving social participation for children and adolescents, enhancing public culture, strengthening the foundations of authentic family ties and intergenerational relationships, and promoting citizenship education and increasing responsibility through the active participation of Iranian children and youth in the production of theatrical works.

These goals reflect the commitment to safeguarding the rights of the vibrant and influential segments of society.

The 29th edition of Iran’s International Theater Festival for Children and Young Adults is scheduled to be held from November 1 to 7. 

Last week, the United Nations reported that "one million children in the Gaza Strip are living in hell on earth," with approximately 40 children killed every day over the past year.

James Elder, spokesperson for the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), emphasized the ongoing suffering of children in Gaza more than a year after the onset of the conflict. He stated, "Gaza is the true embodiment of hell on earth for the one million children there. The situation is deteriorating rapidly." Current estimates suggest that the death toll among children in Gaza has surpassed 14,100, translating to about 35 to 40 children killed daily.

Elder described the figures as reliable, noting that the total number of casualties has exceeded 42,400, with many more likely trapped under the rubble. Survivors of the ongoing airstrikes and military operations face extremely dire living conditions. "Children are repeatedly displaced due to violence and constant evacuation orders, all while the entire territory suffers from severe deprivation," he stated.

The implications of this humanitarian crisis are profound. Families have become increasingly desperate, as they find no safe refuge. "Where do the children and their families go? They are not safe in schools and shelters. They are not safe in hospitals. And they are certainly not safe in overcrowded camps," Elder lamented. 

The ongoing genocide and relentless violence in the region have left countless vulnerable children exposed to unimaginable hardships, highlighting the urgent need for international attention and humanitarian aid.

SAB/