96% OF CHILDREN IN GAZA BELIEVE DEATH IS IMMINENT, REPORT REVEALS

Sat 14 December 2024:

Some 96 per cent of children in Gaza believe death is imminent, while 49 per cent expressed a wish to die due to the relentless war, a new report by the Community Training Centre for Crisis Management (CTCCM), supported by War Child Alliance, has revealed.

The study, based on interviews with over 500 Palestinian children and caregivers, highlights the devastating psychological impact of Israel’s ongoing military onslaught on Gaza’s children. It found that 92 per cent of the children surveyed struggle to accept their reality. Many reported feelings of severe fear, aggression, withdrawal and pervasive hopelessness.

Moreover, the report highlights that families with disabled, injured, or unaccompanied children are particularly affected. The survey, conducted in June 2024, showed that 88 per cent of families have been displaced multiple times, with 21 per cent forced to move six or more times.

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Economically, most families in Gaza live on just £3.28 ($4.15) per day, with 80 per cent of breadwinners unemployed. Alarmingly, 24 per cent of the surveyed families are led by children aged 16 or younger.

Helen Pattinson, CEO of War Child UK, described Gaza as “one of the most horrifying places in the world to be a child.” She called for immediate international action, urging a ceasefire as a critical first step.

“The international community must act now before the child mental health catastrophe we are witnessing embeds itself into multi-generational trauma, the consequences of which the region will be dealing with for decades to come. A ceasefire must be the immediate first step to allow War Child and other agencies to effectively respond to the intense psychological damage children are experiencing,” she warned.

The report also notes logistical challenges in conducting the study amidst the ongoing conflict, utilising convenience sampling from families caring for children with disabilities, injuries, or separation.

The CTCCM and War Child Alliance have called on the international community to prioritise mental health interventions and humanitarian assistance for children in Gaza. They stressed the urgency of addressing the root causes of the crisis to prevent further harm to future generations.

-MEMO

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