Children

As Gaza faces the looming specter of famine, the harrowing toll of malnutrition has already claimed the lives of twenty-seven innocent children, with countless others teetering on the brink of starvation. In response, the World Health Organization has mobilized efforts to train healthcare workers in identifying and treating severe malnutrition complications, while also establishing critical nutrition stabilization centers in key areas of the region. Urgent action is imperative to stem the tide of this humanitarian crisis and prevent further loss of life among Gaza's vulnerable population.

There aren’t enough ventilators at Al-Emirati Hospital in Rafah, Gaza to support the babies being born there. Dr. Ahmed Al-Shaer, Deputy Head of the Incubator Care Unit at the hospital, describes the desperate situation.

 

UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Liam Neeson is urging for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, emphasizing the critical need to address children's urgent needs. Neeson highlights protection, safe access to life-saving supplies and services, and uninterrupted funding as essential elements in this endeavor. Expressing deep concern over the devastating toll on children's lives amidst the ongoing conflict, Neeson stresses the urgency of ending the fighting to mitigate the humanitarian catastrophe.

The escalation of hostilities in the Gaza Strip is having a catastrophic impact on children and families. Around 1.7 million people in the Gaza Strip are estimated to have been internally displaced – half of them children. 

Even wars have rules. No child should be cut off from essential services, nor fall from the reach of humanitarian hands. 

The incubators at Al-Helal Al-Emirati Hospital in Gaza are filled with babies who have lost their parents. Learn about this tragic situation from two doctors at the hospital and see how UNFPA is taking action.

injured child lying in bed

Months of escalating conflict have turned the Gaza Strip into the most dangerous place in the world to be a child. Every child across Gaza has been exposed to deeply distressing events, witnessing horrors that no child should. Around 1.7 million people are estimated to have been internally displaced by the violence, half of them children. Families desperately searching for shelter are being pushed into tiny, overcrowded areas without adequate water, food, or protection. The little food that is available isn’t enough to meet children’s nutritional needs. As a result, thousands of children are malnourished and sick. The lasting impact of this violence will be felt for generations to come.

Five smiling girls and boys are seen through a house window.

Around 1.4 billion children under 15 lack social protection, making them vulnerable to poverty, poor nutrition, and disease. Child benefits can reduce poverty and provide essential services like healthcare, nutrition, and education. However, fewer than 1-in-10 children in low-income countries have access to child benefits, compared to 84.6% in high-income countries. The International Labour Organization (ILO), Save the Children, and UNICEF call on governments to provide universal child benefits to protect all children. Although access to child benefits has increased globally from 20% in 2009 to 28.1% in 2023, this progress has been unequal, with low-income countries lagging behind. To address the issue, the organizations have launched the Global Child Benefits Tracker to monitor children's access to benefits and advocate with governments and donors to close the gaps.

A child with cancer receives treatment from a nurse

Cancer is a leading cause of death for children and adolescents. Each year, an estimated 400,000 children and adolescents develop cancer. The most common types of childhood cancers include leukemias, brain cancers, lymphomas and solid tumours. It is generally not possible to prevent cancer in children, so the most effective strategy to improve outcomes is to focus on a prompt, correct diagnosis followed by effective, evidence-based therapy. International Childhood Cancer Day, 15 February, spotlights the need for more equitable access to treatment and care for all children with cancer, everywhere.

A man carrying his two children among the ruins inflicted by airstrikes on the city of Rafah.

Since 7 October, around 85% of Gaza's population, which is about 1.9 million people, have been displaced. The majority of the 24,000 killed and 59,000 injured are women and children. Hunger is widespread, and aid has been insufficient to address the growing humanitarian crisis. The UN has called for commercial supplies to be allowed to enter Gaza to enable markets and the private sector to reopen and provide an alternative to food accessibility. The images and stories in this photo story published by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) depict the harsh reality that Palestinian children face daily.

Children making the sign of love.

Whether in person or online, almost all children and young people will encounter hate speech at some time. It’s important to help them recognize it and know what to do when they encounter it.

A young girl surrounded by children washing her face a well pump.

https://www.unicef.org/The year 2023 has witnessed an unprecedented global humanitarian crisis marked by escalating conflicts, disasters, food insecurity, and disease outbreaks. From Afghanistan to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, from Burkina Faso to Somalia, and beyond, millions of children face grave threats due to violence, violations, and the collapse of essential services. However, amidst the surging needs, funding remains a critical challenge. UNICEF is actively engaged in these regions, providing crucial support such as healthcare system maintenance, treatment for malnutrition, education, psychosocial support, and protection services. The organization emphasizes the urgency of these 13 situations and the critical need for international support to address the complex and interconnected challenges faced by these communities.

UNICEF has teamed up with spoken word artist @clickfortaz, in support of the 1 in 7 adolescents living with a mental health condition and to promote good mental health and well-being for all children and young people.

children holding out metal pots

Children in the Gaza Strip face a deadly triple threat to their lives, as cases of diseases rise, nutrition plummets and the escalation in hostilities approaches its fourth month. Thousands of children have already died from the violence, while living conditions for children continue to rapidly deteriorate, with increasing cases of diarrhea and rising food poverty among children, raising the risk of mounting child deaths. Children and families need humanitarian assistance and protection now.

school children in class

Over the past 30 years, children’s lives have been transformed by the most widely ratified human rights treaty in history. The Convention on the Rights of the Child has inspired governments to change laws and policies, so more children get the healthcare and nutrition they need and are better protected from violence and exploitation. But there is still more work to be done. The Committee on the Rights of the Child monitors implementation of the Convention by its States parties. The Committee is starting the first of its 3 annual sessions to review States parties reports.