In the rubble-strewn streets and crowded shelters of Gaza, a generation of children is grappling with the devastating psychological fallout of ongoing conflict. Severe anxiety, debilitating mutism, uncontrollable aggression – these are just some of the heartbreaking symptoms frontline workers from the charity War Child witness daily as they strive to provide a lifeline to Gaza’s traumatized youth.
War Child’s Emergency Response
War Child and its local partners are currently supporting over 116,600 children in Gaza, offering vital services such as:
- Psychosocial emergency first aid through play, art, and group activities
- One-on-one counseling for children with complex trauma
- Guidance for caregivers on supporting their children’s mental health
- Temporary learning spaces and educational kits to enable continued learning
- Basic needs like food, clean water, shelter, clothing, and hygiene items
In total, War Child’s €25 million emergency response aims to reach over 1 million children across Gaza and the West Bank in the next three years. It is an unprecedented undertaking for an unprecedented crisis.
The Human Impact
Behind the staggering numbers are the harrowing stories of individual children. Emergency response officer Mohammed recently counseled a severely traumatized 6-year-old boy who had been rendered mute by the horrors he witnessed. “He can communicate only by his drawings,” Mohammed explained. “It’s very hard for anybody to imagine.”
Then there are the estimated 17,000 children who, according to UNICEF, have been orphaned or separated from their families, left vulnerable to abuse and exploitation. Ibrahim, another War Child worker, regularly encounters such children on Gaza’s streets, even in the dead of night, and works to reunite them with loved ones.
“Without the services we offer, especially the psychological services for women and children, many of these people would escalate into actual madness at some point,” said Nida, an emergency technical assistant. “Children are suffering from severe malnutrition. They can’t access food. They are very, very thin.”
Dedication in the Face of Danger
For War Child’s staff, carrying out this life-saving work comes with immense personal risk. Closed checkpoints, fuel shortages, and the very real threat of being caught in the crosshairs of an Israeli attack loom large. Yet still, they persevere.
“What people don’t appreciate is that, leaving my family behind, I’m anxious all day because at any moment they could be bombed at home while I am at work,” Ibrahim shared. It’s a sentiment echoed by his colleagues, all of whom have experienced displacement, injury, and the loss of loved ones.
A Lifeline for Gaza’s Children
In a place where 96% of children constantly fear death, War Child’s work is not just important – it is a matter of psychological survival. By providing a safe space to process trauma, a chance to continue learning, and basic necessities to sustain life, they are ensuring an entire generation is not lost to the horrors of war.
But they cannot do it alone. As the crisis deepens and the needs grow ever more urgent, War Child is calling on the international community to step up and support their mission. Whether through financial contributions, raising awareness, or advocating for policy change, every action counts.
For the children of Gaza, who have known nothing but conflict and hardship, War Child represents a flicker of hope in the darkness. By rallying around their cause, we can fan that flicker into a flame – a beacon of light guiding the way to a brighter, more peaceful future.
