Children in Gaza are facing devastating psychological impacts after months of violence, displacement, malnutrition, and diseases, according to a new study by Save the Children. The daily life of children in Gaza includes fear, anxiety, lack of food, hyper-vigilance, sleep problems, regression, and aggression. The emotional distress of dodging bombs and bullets and the fear of losing loved ones have left children without the ability to imagine a future without war.
The situation in Gaza has been worsened by the ongoing blockade by Israel, which has been in place for over 16 years. The number of children killed in just over 4 months in Gaza is higher than the number of children killed in 4 years of wars around the world, highlighting the devastating impact of the conflict on children.
Parents and caregivers in Gaza are struggling to provide the support, services, and tools their children need to cope with the psychological trauma they are facing. Mental health experts and child protection workers working with Save the Children warn that without urgent action, war will inflict further mental damage on children in Gaza, with long-lasting consequences.
The recent escalation of violence in Gaza has caused a total collapse of mental health services, with public centers and the only psychiatric hospital in Gaza no longer functioning. Children in Gaza are experiencing shock and unimaginable pain, with many unable to concentrate on basic activities and suffering from psychological destruction.
Save the Children is calling for an immediate and definitive ceasefire and safe and unhindered access to aid to provide critical support to children in Gaza. Without urgent action, the impact of conflict on children in Gaza will continue to worsen, leaving long-lasting scars on their physical and mental health.