Children in Gaza continue to face deadly violence, displacement and deteriorating living conditions despite the ceasefire, with UNICEF warning that the humanitarian crisis remains severe as winter approaches.
UNICEF spokesperson Ricardo Pires said that the deaths and injuries reported in the enclave underscored the continuing dangers facing children. Over the past two weeks, five boys and two girls were reported killed, while at least 33 children sustained serious injuries in airstrikes, drone strikes and gunfire across Gaza. Two other boys died from injuries suffered earlier, he told journalists in Geneva.
“For families mourning the loss of their children, those terrible statistics do not equate with a ceasefire,” Pires said, highlighting the devastating impact of the war on Palestinian families.
The conflict has disrupted nearly every aspect of children’s lives, from access to food and shelter to education and emotional well-being.
Pires cited the story of Norhan, a 16-year-old girl who lost her mother shortly after her birth. Her mother was shot when she was eight months pregnant and died the day after delivering her baby.
With her father living with a disability, Norhan has taken responsibility for caring for her one-year-old sister, Narjis. Her daily routine revolves around household chores, cooking and looking after the infant. She also helps her three other siblings with their schoolwork after they attend a UNICEF-supported learning centre.
Norhan hopes that helping her siblings continue their education will give them a chance at a better future.
Meanwhile, concerns are growing over the continued entry of essential supplies into Gaza. Responding to reports that private traders had suspended cooperation with Israeli authorities over the entry of commercial food trucks, Pires stressed that both humanitarian aid and commercial goods must be allowed to enter the enclave without interruption.
He recalled visiting Gaza City last year, before the ceasefire, when supplies were unable to enter and famine had been declared by UN-backed food insecurity experts.
Pires warned against a return to conditions in which families were deprived of the food, goods and services necessary for survival and recovery.
The humanitarian situation is becoming increasingly precarious as temperatures fall and winter rains approach. Displaced Palestinians are struggling to protect their makeshift shelters from the weather, with some filling empty flour sacks with sand to prevent rainwater from entering their tents.
The damaged sanitation infrastructure presents another major threat. Israeli bombardment has severely affected Gaza’s drainage systems, leaving large volumes of wastewater in vulnerable areas.
Pires pointed to the Sheikh Radwan stormwater basin in Gaza City, which remains partially filled with wastewater, warning that time was running out to pump it out before the winter rains arrive.
If the contaminated water overflows, it could flood residential neighbourhoods downstream, exposing children and families to potentially fatal risks. Children have drowned in sewage-contaminated water in the past, he said.
UNICEF estimates that around 800,000 children remain displaced across Gaza, with most living in tents or damaged buildings that may be unsafe. An estimated 60,000 children have lost one or both parents during the war or since the ceasefire, while nearly every child requires some form of mental health support to recover from the conflict’s effects.
Despite the immense challenges, efforts to restore essential services and education are continuing. UNICEF said it had helped more than 560,000 children return to learning since the ceasefire, including through more than 200 learning centres supported by the agency.
The organisation has also provided digital cash assistance to more than 380,000 people and delivered safe water to 1.2 million people.
Pires described the cash assistance as a lifeline for families struggling to meet their basic needs. However, UNICEF’s warning underscores that sustained access to essential supplies, safe shelter, clean water and education remains critical to protecting Gaza’s children as winter sets in.
