Last updated: 19 April 2024

The impact this latest escalation of violence in Israel and Gaza has had on children is the “worst War Child Alliance staff have witnessed in over 30 years helping children in conflict”. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) team lead on Gaza has said "I have never in my humanitarian career seen this level of suffering, desperation and deprivation”.

Over 14,500 children in Gaza have been killed since the escalation began – that’s one child in every 75; equivalent to around 14 secondary schools or 53 primary schools full of children. Children are being killed at a faster rate than in any other conflict this century. More have been killed in Gaza in the space of four months than in conflicts around the world in the last four years. Tens of thousands more are injured or trapped under rubble.

Well over a thousand children have lost one or both limbs, with many amputations being forced to take place without anesthetic.

Most children have been killed by Israeli attacks, with growing numbers (28 confirmed so far) killed by starvation and dehydration due to the lack of food and clean water being allowed in.

Children were among the more than 1,200 killed and over 240 taken hostage by Palestinian armed groups on 7 October. At last update, just over 130 hostages taken on 7 October have not been released.

Independent NGOs have reported rising numbers of Palestinian children detained without charge and abused by Israeli authorities. Over 3,000 Palestinians of all ages are currently held without charge.

Violence and bombing has forced around a million children in Gaza from their homes.

Around 600,000 children have been forced to crowd into the border city of Rafah; many with only make-shift shelters to protect them against the heavy rain, gusty winds and cold of the Gazan winter. Israeli forces are now attacking Rafah, leaving the children with nowhere to go.

A blockade on aid entering Gaza has left the entire population facing starvation, water, medicine and fuel shortages. Most are likely to be experiencing severe mental trauma.

Only a quarter of the hospitals that originally supported these children remain operational; those that do are often damaged and lacking medical supplies or the fuel needed to function. Around 1.1 million children are in urgent need of aid.

Around two thirds of schools in Gaza have been destroyed.

Over 17,000 are estimated to be alone, without parents, family or other carers.

The War Child Alliance has worked with children in West Bank and Gaza since 2006. Since then, in line with our principles of humanitarian impartiality – working where we can have the greatest impact for children affected by conflict, regardless of political boundaries – our work in the region has focused on Gaza and West Bank, where the need for our services is much more acute.

Since 7 October 2023, relentless bombing and violence, and restrictions on entering and getting necessary supplies into Gaza, has seriously hampered the ability of the Alliance and other charities to help any more than a fraction of the 1.1 million children in urgent need of aid. However, in desperate circumstances, Children in Conflict and partners have still managed to support nearly 15,000 children and family members. This has included:

1.         Save lives: Seize every opportunity to get children the food, clean water, warmth, shelter and hygiene products they urgently need.

2.         Tackle trauma: Give children access to immediate mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) whilst working to establish a sustainable child mental health care system.

3.         Protect and reunite: Provide care and protection for unaccompanied and orphaned children, looking to reunite separated children with family and loved ones.

4.         Provide hope: Restore and sustain children’s right to an education.