War Child is currently rolling out our largest every humanitarian response in Gaza,the occupied Palestinian territories and West Bank to meet children’s urgent needs and protect them from harm.
For decades, children across Gaza,the occupied Palestinian territories and West Bank have routinely faced violence, detention without trial, harassment and discrimination under Israel’s occupation. The current war in Gaza has made the crisis indescribably worse. An estimated 15,000 children have been killed, and roughly 1 in 10 have been maimed or injured while more than 17,000 others are estimated by the UN to be separated or left orphaned as parents and caregivers are killed, missing or detained.
For those who survive, the situation is dire. In Gaza, Israel have destroyed civilian infrastructure and are blockading essential aid. People are left in cramped shelters without access to food, water or health services. Starvation, disease and malnourishment are widespread. Meanwhile, children in the West Bank face severe reductions in basic services as checkpoints for them to access schools, healthcare and other services have been closed.
Children in Gaza experience traumatic situations on a daily basis. It is likely that every child there needs urgent mental health support, with many requiring years of specialist treatment as they struggle with anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. It’s even harder for them to look ahead to a positive future when education has completely stopped in Gaza and is increasingly inaccessible in the West Bank.
