In Gaza, a tragedy of unimaginable scale continues to unfold, one that haunts the very heart of humanity. Since October 7, 2023, Israel’s brutal onslaught on the Gaza Strip has left a trail of devastation. Thousands of lives have been lost. Amid the wreckage and rubble, one group stands out in its grief and loss: the children. Gaza’s children, born into a life already shadowed by hardship, have now faced the wrath of a genocide they did nothing to deserve.

A Generation Lost to War

More than 17,000 children are currently separated from their families in Gaza, their innocence shattered by the brutality of war. Among them, at least 38,000 have been orphaned. This staggering figure speaks to a far deeper crisis than simply the loss of life. It speaks to the loss of futures, of potential, of the bright smiles that should have lit up Gaza’s streets. Now, those smiles have been replaced with tears of unimaginable sorrow.

Among those lost, the numbers are heart breaking: 825 babies, deprived of their first breath of life outside the womb; 895 one-year-olds, never given the chance to take their first steps. Over 3,200 children aged two to five, whose worlds were meant to be full of play, laughter, and learning, are now gone. More than 4,000 children aged six to 10, their schoolbooks and dreams never fully realised.

Then there are the middle schoolers, 3,646 children aged 11 to 14, who had already survived three wars but were not spared the violence of the fourth. Finally, 2,949 teenagers aged 15 to 17, whose dreams of independence and future ambitions were brutally cut short. The statistics are gut-wrenching. Of the children who perished, 8,899 were sons, and 6,714 were daughters, each of them, a story of life cut short, a life that should have been filled with joy, education, and hope.

The Psychological Trauma of War

But the trauma of these children doesn’t end with their deaths. For those who survive, the emotional and psychological scars are indelible. The horrific violence they’ve witnessed, the deaths of their parents, siblings, and friends, have all left these children in a constant state of fear, anxiety, and despair. Many children are left without the ability to sleep, to eat, or even to feel safe in their own homes.

It is estimated that more than 1 million children in Gaza now need mental health and psychosocial support. Before the war, UNICEF reported that more than 500,000 children in Gaza were already in need of such support. Now, with the ongoing conflict, the situation has worsened, with nearly every child in Gaza experiencing some form of trauma. The need for immediate, large-scale intervention is critical, yet it remains woefully underfunded and hindered by the ongoing crisis.

The Vital Role of Makeshift Schools and Orphan Support

In the midst of this devastation, there are glimmers of hope. Organisations like Gaza’s Great Minds are stepping up to provide essential support to these children. These schools are more than just places of learning; they are lifelines for children who have lost everything. Through these makeshift classrooms, children not only learn but also find a sense of normalcy, however fleeting it may be.

Alongside education, these organisations are offering crucial psychological support. In a region where trauma is a constant companion, the mental health and well-being of these children are just as important as their right to education. These centres provide a safe space for children to express their grief, their fear, and their anger, while also teaching them coping mechanisms to help them navigate the horrors they’ve lived through.

However, the need for such services is overwhelming. The current situation, with limited resources and ongoing insecurity, means that only a fraction of the children who need help are receiving it. Still, GGM is determined to continue their work, even in the face of overwhelming odds, as they try to give Gaza’s children the hope and opportunities they desperately need.

The World Cannot Turn Away       

It is essential that we do not turn away from the stories of these children. Each one is a victim of a conflict they had no part in, a conflict that has torn apart the fabric of their lives and futures. Whether they are orphaned, injured, or psychologically scarred, these children are the ones who will carry the burden of genocide. The world must act to protect them, to ensure their safety. To help rebuild the shattered lives they have inherited.

The figures may be staggering, but behind each statistic is a child, a child who deserves the right to grow up in peace, to dream, to laugh, and to learn. We cannot allow Gaza’s children to become another forgotten tragedy. We must continue to push for ceasefires, for humanitarian aid, for an end to the violence, and for a brighter future for these innocent lives.

A Future Unwritten

In the face of such immense loss, it is easy to feel helpless but there are always a way to help, even in the darkest of times.

But this cannot be left to local organisations alone. The international community must act now to ensure that Gaza’s children are not forgotten, that their grief is acknowledged, their pain addressed, and their futures restored.

The time for action is now. For Gaza’s children, for the future of the Gaza Strip, and for the sake of humanity, we must demand a future free from violence, free from fear, and filled with the hope of peace.