Amidst the ongoing conflict in Gaza, approximately 17,000 children have tragically been separated from their parents, as reported by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). The relentless attacks by Israel since October 7 have disproportionately affected the children of the region, leading to dire humanitarian consequences. Jonathan Crix, a spokesperson for Yosef, emphasized the heartbreaking stories of each child separated from their parents, underscoring the immense toll the conflict has taken.
Gaza has endured severe devastation during the nearly four-month-long offensive, compounded by Israel’s blockade, resulting in acute shortages of essential resources like food, water, fuel, and medical supplies. These dire conditions have significantly impacted the mental health of Gaza’s children, exacerbating an already precarious situation.
Even before the conflict began, more than 500,000 children in Gaza were in need of mental health care, according to the United Nations. In light of the ongoing crisis, Jonathan Crix emphasized that now, all children in Gaza require urgent mental health support, with the number exceeding ten lakh. Despite their innocence and lack of involvement in the conflict, no child should have to endure the profound suffering they are experiencing.
The conflict escalated on October 7, with an attack by the Palestinian independence organization Hamas resulting in the deaths of 1,139 individuals in Israel, alongside approximately 240 people being taken hostage. Since then, Israel’s indiscriminate attacks on Gaza have persisted, resulting in the loss of at least 27,238 Palestinian lives and leaving 66,452 individuals injured.
