According to UNICEF’s latest findings, the ongoing conflict has left an estimated 17,000 children in Gaza either orphaned or separated from their families, with virtually all children in the enclave in dire need of mental health support.
Jonathan Veitch, the Communications Director at UNICEF’s office in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, highlighted the severe psychological impact on children, noting symptoms such as extreme anxiety, loss of appetite, sleep disturbances, emotional agitation, and panic at the sound of bombing.
“Even before this conflict, UNICEF had already identified around 500,000 children in Gaza in need of mental health services and psychosocial support. Now, our estimates suggest that nearly all children in the area require this support, amounting to over a million children,” Veitch stated.
The escalating violence has exacerbated the mental health crisis among Gaza’s youngest residents, underscoring the urgent need for comprehensive psychological support and intervention to address the deep-seated trauma experienced by so many.
