The warning comes as humanitarians say that the collapse of basic services has eroded children’s sense of stability and security, leaving them in urgent need of “sustained, long-term efforts to recover”.
Child safety assessments conducted in September, shared by the United Nations (UN) Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), found that 93% of children showed signs of aggression, while 90% were violent towards younger children. Sadness and withdrawal were reported in 86%, disturbed sleep in 79% and refusal to study in 69%.
Although a fragile ceasefire remains in place, OCHA says deadly violence and insecurity persist. Israeli military strikes have been reported near or east of the “Yellow Line”, where Israeli forces remain deployed across more than half of the Gaza Strip. Access to the sea is still prohibited, and Palestinian fishers continue to be detained.
OCHA also reports daily demolitions of residential buildings in areas beyond the Yellow Line, while humanitarian access to infrastructure, farmland and aid assets remains severely restricted.
Roughly one million of Gaza’s 2.1 million people are sheltering across 862 displacement sites. More than half are in Khan Younis, with others spread across Deir al Balah, Gaza and North Gaza governorates, and Rafah.
The overcrowded conditions heighten the risks of violence, neglect and unsafe access to water, sanitation and hygiene facilities, especially for girls and children with disabilities.
The UN Relief and Works Agency says 75 000 people are living in and around 100 of its shelters. Aid partners report rising anxiety among children and worsening behavioural changes linked to the prolonged uncertainty and lack of safe spaces.
Over the past four weeks, humanitarian organisations have provided child protection services to more than 132 000 children and caregivers, including psychological consultations, group sessions, recreational support and referrals.
The goal is to reach more than 100 000 children each month, with nearly one million children across Gaza in need of sustained psychosocial assistance.
OCHA also confirmed that Israel has reopened the Zikim crossing after an eight-week closure. The crossing, which links Israel with northern Gaza, will resume operations for humanitarian cargo following road repairs and safety checks carried out by the UN.
–UN/ChannelAfrica–
