The ongoing conflict in Gaza, marked by Israeli airstrikes and a complete blockade, is exacting a heavy toll on the region’s most vulnerable population – its children. The heartbreaking situation unfolding in Gaza raises concerns about the rights of Palestinian children, including their access to food, education, and essential utilities.
The Grim Toll on Children:
As the conflict rages on, the casualties among Palestinian children continue to rise. Recent reports indicate that hundreds of children have lost their lives due to Israeli airstrikes. The Palestinian Health Information Centre reports that at least 950 Palestinians were killed in Gaza on a single day, with 260 of them being children. Shockingly, 10% of the 3,726 injured individuals were also children. This situation is further exacerbated by the fact that since 2005, six major military offensives in Gaza have resulted in the tragic deaths of at least 1,000 Palestinian children. Save the Children’s Jason Lee rightly points out the sheer terror that these children endure.
Children and the Blockade:
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant’s declaration of a complete blockade on Gaza has further intensified the crisis. This has left the people of Gaza, who have been living under a land, sea, and air embargo since 2007, without access to electricity, gas, food, and water. The repeated Israeli attacks on Gaza since the embargo began have led to the destruction of homes, making it a daunting and time-consuming task for residents to rebuild or even find shelter.
The repercussions of this dire situation are severe for the children of Gaza. Their physical and mental health is seriously impacted by the lack of clean water, sanitation resources, and protection from extreme weather. The complete blockade has also led to a concerning increase in food insecurity. Children are resorting to risky means to obtain money for food, often venturing into areas where they could face assault by Israeli soldiers. The absence of adequate water and sanitation services in Gaza has previously caused children to fall ill with conditions like the flu and typhoid fever. Frequent electricity outages have made it even more challenging for children, exposing them to extreme temperatures and health hazards.
The Mental Health Crisis:
The conflict is also taking a severe toll on the mental health of Gaza’s children. A significant number of them suffer from depression, grief, and fear. Shockingly, more than half of these children have reported experiencing suicidal thoughts, as per a 2022 report by Save the Children. Witnessing the deaths of other children only adds to their stress and trauma.
Education Interrupted:
In their quest for safety, over 73,000 Palestinians have sought refuge in 64 UNRWA-run schools for Palestinian refugees. Unfortunately, even these institutions are not immune to the conflict. At least four of them in Gaza have sustained damage from Israeli airstrikes, according to UNRWA. Education Above All (EAA) Foundation’s Al Fakhoora school, which provided scholarships to Palestinian students in need, was tragically destroyed in an airstrike. EAA rightly condemned such acts as violations of international humanitarian law, and possibly war crimes. The constant fear of an Israeli invasion is an ongoing source of stress for students in Gaza, prompting the Ministry of Education to introduce training programs aimed at preparing teachers and children in schools near the Gaza border for evacuation drills in case of an attack.
The heart-wrenching situation in Gaza, as Israeli airstrikes continue and a comprehensive blockade tightens its grip, is an urgent humanitarian crisis. The toll on Palestinian children is immense, affecting their physical and mental health, access to education, and prospects for a better future. International attention and efforts to address this crisis are crucial to alleviate the suffering of Gaza’s children and pave the way for a more peaceful and secure future in the region.
