Gaza Conflict Results in High Child Casualties and Orphaned Youths

The conflict in Gaza, initiated by Hamas' attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, has resulted in substantial civilian casualties. The Hamas-run Gaza Ministry of Health reports over 67,000 Palestinian deaths since the conflict began. Israel disputes this figure but has not provided its own estimate. The United Nations considers the health ministry's count the most reliable available, as Israel has restricted foreign journalists from operating independently in Gaza.

UNICEF spokesperson Ricardo Pires stated that Israel's response in Gaza has killed or maimed at least 61,000 children since the war started. UNICEF and Save the Children report that, on average, a child dies every hour in Gaza, equating to a classroom of children per day. Save the Children estimates that at least 20,000 children have been killed since the conflict began, representing nearly a third of all Palestinian fatalities.

James Elder, another UNICEF spokesperson, described the dire conditions in Gaza's hospitals, noting that during a recent visit, he observed numerous injured children and witnessed a child dying. He emphasized the severe impact on children, including the loss of loved ones and repeated displacement, which exacerbate trauma.

In Khan Younis, a makeshift camp houses Palestinian children orphaned by the conflict. Fourteen-year-old Deena Al-Za'arab, who lost both parents, expressed her wish that the war were just a dream and her parents were still alive. She now feels responsible for raising her siblings. Ten-year-old Arat Awqal, who promised her father she'd become a doctor before he died, now focuses on caring for her younger sister. She expressed a desire to return to how life was before the war but acknowledged that life will never be the same again.

The United Nations estimates that about 90% of Gaza's population, approximately 1.9 million people, have been forcibly displaced during the conflict, many multiple times. This mass displacement has led to overcrowded living conditions and increased challenges in providing humanitarian aid. Olga Cherevko, a spokesperson for the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, highlighted the dire conditions, noting that many people are living on the side of the road in makeshift tents, facing extremely difficult conditions in terms of hygiene and sanitation.