<\/p>\n
2 February 2026<\/p>\n
Highlights:<\/strong><\/p>\n In the State of Palestine, the conflict in the Gaza Strip and rising violence in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, have triggered mass fatalities, displacement and extreme protection risks for children. At least 3.6 million people require assistance.<\/p>\n Gaza Strip: Infrastructure damage and limited humanitarian access have created critical needs for WASH and healthcare services, with waterborne diseases and polio threatening public health. Around 101,000 children remain at risk of malnutrition. More than 1 million children require psychosocial support, and 765,000 children need access to education.<\/p>\n West Bank: Violence and economic hardship impact more than 800,000 people, who require healthcare and WASH support. Around 140,000 children across the West Bank, including in refugee camps, face barriers to accessing education.<\/p>\n UNICEF urgently seeks $707.8 million to address the escalating needs of children and families in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank to provide life-saving support in WASH, health, nutrition, education, child protection, social protection and cash transfers and to support work restoring and strengthening systems.<\/p>\n Humanitarian Situation and needs:<\/strong><\/p>\n The conflict that escalated on 7 October 2023 has caused devastating humanitarian consequences for children across the State of Palestine and Israel. In the Gaza Strip, at least 21,289 children have been reported killed as of 3 February 2026; 44,500 children have been injured, including more than 11,000 children with life-changing injuries. Protection risks, grave violations and mental health and psychosocial needs of children are at extreme levels and ever-increasing. At least 1.3 million people \u2013 most of the Gaza Strip\u2019s population \u2013 are displaced; many of whom have been displaced multiple times.<\/p>\n Following the October ceasefire, aid delivery has noticeably increased, and the impact is clear. Famine that occurred in one governorate was reversed and the availability of goods in the markets has increased. Nevertheless, significant challenges remain, including access issues limiting humanitarian operations; violence that, though reduced, persists, with at least 138 children reported killed in the Gaza Strip since the ceasefire, highlighting ongoing protection risks; and restrictions on critical items for water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) interventions \u2013 such as pipes and spare parts \u2013 are delaying early recovery efforts.<\/p>\n The extensive damage to water, sanitation and waste management infrastructure, the lack of critical resources to operate and maintain the remaining infrastructure and the resulting poor hygiene conditions are leaving almost the entire population of the Gaza Strip prone to public health risks. The destruction of health facilities, coupled with overcrowded and unsanitary conditions, has led to outbreaks of diarrhoea, hepatitis A, acute respiratory infections and circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (CvDPV2), 25 years after it was eliminated. According to the recent health functionality assessment, no hospital is fully functional while 50 per cent (18\/36) of hospitals are partially functional. Among primary healthcare centres, about 1.5 per cent (3\/200) are fully functional and 46.5 per cent (93\/200) are partially functional.<\/p>\n High levels of malnutrition continue to threaten the well-being and survival of children in the Gaza Strip. Combined with limited access to health, nutrition and WASH services, 320,000 children under age 5 are at risk of malnutrition, including 101,000 who require treatment for wasting. In addition, approximately 37,000 pregnant and lactating women urgently need nutrition support, while 121,000 children aged 5\u201317 years are also in need of essential nutritional assistance.<\/p>\n Systematic attacks on schools \u2013 many serving as shelters for internally displaced people \u2013 have severely hampered the resumption of learning, leaving over 637,000 children out of school and potentially setting back their education by five years, with 97.5 per cent of schools damaged or destroyed. UNICEF launched a Gaza-wide Back to Learning campaign and managed to bring Recreational Kits and Educational Kits to the Gaza Strip in January 2026 for the first time in over two years. These supplies, plus Early Childhood Development Kits and Education Kits, will support children\u2019s learning, wellbeing, and resilience.<\/p>\n The destruction of roads and infrastructure and an unpredictable security situation, coupled with highly constrained humanitarian access, is disrupting supply chains and delaying distribution of essential items. Entry of critical supplies is hampered by the mandatory use of congested entry points, with frequent denial of alternative routes for humanitarian trucks. Persistent delays in customs clearance exacerbate delivery timelines.<\/p>\n In the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, escalating violence, settler attacks, militarized law enforcement operations and movement restrictions have crippled essential services. Around 800,000 people require water and sanitation services and 830,000 require healthcare, including pregnant women and newborns. Protection concerns, attacks on education and teacher salary cuts have deepened the education crisis, affecting at least 84,000 students. Violence and grave violations against children, displacement and economic hardship have intensified protection needs for children, particularly for mental health and psychosocial support.<\/p>\n In Israel, approximately 1,200 people were killed on 7 October 2023 and in its immediate aftermath, including 37 children. Out of 255 people taken hostage, including 36 children, 253 have been released or returned. Of the 36 children, 34 were released alive in November 2023 and the remains of two were returned in February 2025. The psychological impact of the conflict on Israeli children cannot be overlooked.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 2 February 2026 Highlights: In the State of Palestine, the conflict in the Gaza Strip and rising violence in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, have triggered mass fatalities, displacement and extreme protection risks for children. At least 3.6 million people require assistance. 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