The chief noted that estimates suggest over 17,000 children are without their families in Gaza, adding that the children have also lost their schools and education [Getty]
At least one million children in Gaza need mental health and psychosocial support for depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts, the United Nation’s relief chief revealed on Thursday.
Speaking to the UN Security Council, Tom Fletcher talked about what Palestinian children in Gaza had endured over the past 15 months since the start of Israel’s indiscriminate offensive on the Strip.
“A generation has been traumatised,” Fletcher briefed the council.
 “One million children are in need of mental health and psychosocial support for depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts, according to UNICEF.”
The chief noted that estimates suggest over 17,000 children are orphaned or separated from their families in Gaza, adding that the children had also lost their schools and education.
“Children have been killed, starved and frozen to death. They have been maimed, orphaned, separated from their family,” Fletcher added.
“Many have faced sexual violence. Girls, who have endured the additional indignity of no menstrual care, have been left exposed and vulnerable.”
While the war has come to a ceasefire, Fletcher said the UN and its partners were “seizing every opportunity presented by the ceasefire to step up our response across the Strip” against the backdrop of the “horror”.
“Safe, unobstructed humanitarian access, alongside the absence of hostilities and the almost complete cessation of criminal looting over the past days, have significantly improved our ability to operate,” Fletcher told the council.
The chief also added that they had increased the incoming flow of aid, scaled up storage capacity and repair work, provided “life-saving services,” and carried out needs and damage assessments.
“We are getting supplies to designated emergency shelters and distribution centres across the Gaza Strip,” the chief said, adding that over two million Gazans depend on their humanitarian support.
“It is critical that the pipelines of stocks are regularly replenished.”
Out of the over 47,283 Palestinians killed since October 2023, the majority are found to be women and children.
The UN has previously spoken about the impact Israel’s war has had on children, with civilians under the age of 18 making up nearly 50 percent of Gaza’s population.
Previous reports and surveys reveal the mental toll the attacks have had. War Child UK revealed in December that many Gazan children felt that death was imminent and wished to die.
The charity’s CEO said almost every child would need psychological support and recovery.
