Childhood defined by struggle for survival in the Gaza Strip

GENEVA, 16 October 2026 – “In the last two weeks in Gaza, despite an agreed ceasefire, five boys and two girls have been reported killed and at least 33 children seriously injured in air strikes, drone strikes and gunfire across the Strip. Another two boys died of injuries sustained previously.

“And a little over one year on since the ceasefire was announced, more than 340 children have been reported killed and hundreds of others injured.

“Not least for the families mourning the loss of their children, those terrible statistics do not equate with a ceasefire as most would imagine one.

“A new UNICEF report, released today, lays bare the staggering human cost of a war that continues to devastate children, taking their lives, their childhoods, and their futures.

“Some 800,000 children are still displaced and most live in tents or dangerous bombed-out buildings.

“An estimated 60,000 children in Gaza have seen either one or both, parents, killed during the war, or since the ceasefire.

“Nearly every child needs some form of mental health support to recover.

“And now, as we once again approach winter, these children face a fourth year struggling to survive in dire conditions. Damaged tents, a lack of sanitation, and crowded together in whatever space families can find to create a makeshift home.

“While the cease-fire has allowed for more humanitarian assistance and commercial supplies to enter into the strip and the food security situation has improved, for children in Gaza, the consequences of war permeate every aspect of daily life: where they sleep, what they eat, whether they can learn, whether they feel safe enough to play, and whether the people they love are still by their side.

“Like for 16-year-old Norhan who my colleagues met recently. Her mum was shot while eight months pregnant. She delivered her baby and then died the following day.

“Norhan’s father is living with a disability, so she now cares for her one-year-old sister Narjis and takes full responsibility. Her days are spent tidying the home, cooking, and playing with Narjis.

Her three other siblings attend a UNICEF-supported learning centre and Norhan helps them with their studies after class, which as she says means ‘They might just have a future.’

“Since the ceasefire, more than 560,000 children have returned to learning, including in over 200 UNICEF-supported learning centers. This year we’ve provided digital cash assistance – a lifeline – to more than 380,000 people, and we continue to supply safe water to 1.2 million people, while removing solid waste and delivering medical supplies.

“This work is critical and lifesaving. But it’s far from restoring services as they should be.

“Like sanitation networks and systems. All six wastewater treatment plants are still out of service.

“Most of the raw sewage gets pumped directly into the sea, affecting the coastline for miles around.

“There are vast pools of wastewater, such as the Sheikh Radwan stormwater basin that is half-full. And with the winter rains fast approaching, we are running out of time to pump this out.

“Just as we warned a year ago, contaminated water could overflow and inundate downstream residential areas, with potentially life-threatening impacts for children and their families. Children have drowned in sewage-contaminated water before.

“The basin can be drained within two weeks, but the equipment needed hasn’t yet been allowed by Israel to enter Gaza.

“The needs are vast, and funding falls far short of what is required. That is precisely why flexible, predictable, and sustained resources and funding are critical if we are to reach children and families.

“Families who live in damaged shelters and overcrowded displacement sites are increasingly concerned about their children’s survival through the harsh cold and rain.

“But despite everything, children, as always, hold onto hope. Norhan’s dream is to be a pharmacist. She hasn’t given up on that, but she doesn’t expect it.

“The future Gaza’s children want is one where they can simply live their childhoods, as is their right. To make that a reality, children need a real ceasefire and the full implementation of the peace plan now.

“Children need safety and protection whether they are in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank as well as in Israel.

“Children need to recover, to begin to heal, to return to a normal life.

“This requires Member States to put children first.

“This requires the Israeli authorities to enable the entry of the materials, equipment, and technical supplies to rehabilitate infrastructure and restore essential services. Without the entry of spare parts, generators and engine oil at scale, even the services still running cannot be sustained.

“It requires that parties to the conflict uphold the terms of the ceasefire and UNSC Resolution 2803 and their obligations under international humanitarian law.

“Above all, we need to listen to the voices of children in Gaza.

“For children, recovery is about returning to school, spending time with friends and family, having a decent shelter that preserves their dignity, playing safely, receiving health care when they need it, and regaining a sense of stability and everyday childhood.

“This is what the future must look like for Palestinian children.

“Gaza’s children have suffered far too much, for far too long.”

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Notes to editors

For more information, please contact UNICEF UK Media team at [email protected] or 0208 375 6030.

About UNICEF

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. Across more than 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, to build a better world for everyone.

The UK Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF UK) raises funds for UNICEF’s emergency and development work for children. We also promote and protect children’s rights in the UK and internationally. We are a UK charity, entirely funded by supporters.

United Kingdom Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF UK), Registered Charity No. 1072612 (England & Wales), SC043677 (Scotland).

For more information visit unicef.org.uk. Follow UNICEF UK on Instagram,  LinkedIn, Facebook, Tiktok and YouTube.