Gaza Children Face Mental Health Crisis Amid Attacks
APP
United Nations: The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has raised alarm over the worsening mental health crisis among children in Gaza, exacerbated by the ongoing Israeli military offensive in the besieged territory.
The agency revealed that over a million children in Gaza are suffering from severe psychological distress, with many experiencing nightmares, anxiety, and intense fear as a result of the relentless bombardment, loss of family members, and the dire humanitarian conditions.
In a report released on Sunday, UNICEF emphasized the urgent need for psychosocial support, which remains largely inaccessible due to the ongoing violence and blockades. The report also highlighted that at least 19,000 Palestinian children have been orphaned since the conflict began in October 2023.
Mental health professionals warn that the effects of the conflict on Gaza’s children could have lasting consequences for generations to come. The prolonged trauma and loss experienced by children in the region are likely to leave deep psychological scars, which could hinder their development and well-being for years to come.
Tragically, the violence continues to claim young lives. The Palestinian Civil Defence reported that at least 70 children have been killed in Israeli airstrikes across Gaza in the past five days. Additionally, an Israeli airstrike on a school housing displaced people in northern Gaza’s Jabalia town killed eight people, including two children.
In its recent report, UNICEF noted that at least 74 children were killed in the first week of January 2025, further deepening the humanitarian crisis. UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell condemned the continued violence, calling for an immediate ceasefire to prevent further suffering of children in Gaza.
Since the outbreak of violence in October 2023, Israeli forces have killed at least 46,565 Palestinians, the majority of whom are women and children, and have injured over 109,000 others. The ongoing siege has also led to severe shortages of food, water, and medical supplies, with Israel blocking essential humanitarian aid, compounding the suffering of Gaza’s civilian population.
UNICEF and other humanitarian organizations continue to call for immediate action to address the urgent needs of children in Gaza and to end the violence that has wreaked havoc on countless innocent lives.
