Children have been killed or injured in more than half of the attacks at food distribution sites in Gaza since the US-and-Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) began operating four weeks ago, says Save the Children, according to Al Jazeera.

In the 19 deadly incidents reported, the organisation found that children were among the casualties in 10 of them.

“Some families in Gaza are so desperate — in some cases due to a lack of a healthy adult — that they are sending children to collect food at distribution points, unavoidably exposing them to the risk of being shot by Israeli forces,” said Save the Children in a statement.

Save the Children staff have witnessed people killed while trying to get aid, the organisation stated.

“No one wants to get aid from these distribution points and who can blame them — it’s a death sentence. People are terrified of being killed. One colleague told us today that even though his family is down to eating one meal a day, he won’t go to a GHF distribution, because he believes his life is worth more than a bag of flour,” Save the Children’s Regional Director for the Middle East, North Africa and Eastern Europe Ahmad Alhendawi, said.

“And to add to the dystopian horror show, children are also being killed and injured trying to reach aid — aid they have a right to.”