Harsh Realities
Nearly every child in Gaza has experienced repeated displacement since October 2023. For children, this has meant the loss of everything familiar—from homes and comfort items to neighbours, friends, and any opportunity to attend school or play in a safe environment.
This profound loss of stability is compounded by unsanitary living conditions, limited access to doctors and medical facilities, and severe deprivation of nutritionally adequate food. Children are also routinely exposed to harsh—and at times deadly—elements, vermin and insects, and ongoing violence.
Beyond these conditions, children are forced to endure the trauma of witnessing the suffering, injury, death, or forcible disappearance of siblings, parents, and other close relatives.
On Displacement
Shelter
In April 2025, the United Nations estimated that 92% of residential buildings in Gaza had been destroyed. As a result, most families are living among rubble - within unsafe, partially standing structures that are vulnerable to heavy winds and storms - or in tents where rent still needs to be payed for the land it sits on. A small number are able to rent cramped rooms at exorbitant prices.
The majority of available shelter is neither structurally safe nor sanitary, offering little protection from the extreme summer heat or the cold, rain-soaked winters. Rebuilding in Gaza is currently not possible due to severe shortages of building materials and the widespread destruction of construction machinery.
Most families also lack the means to purchase even the most basic items—such as tarps, mattresses, or gas cylinders—that could make their shelters safer and more bearable.
Nutrition
The IPC estimates that 132,000 children in Gaza will face acute malnutrition by July 2026. Mothers are also severely undernourished, leading to high risk and underweight births and, in many cases, an inability to breastfeed. Children often survive on the most basic staples—such as lentils and rice—with little to no access to fresh produce or meat.
Although many goods are technically available in Gaza, they are sold at commercial prices. As a result, families are simply unable to afford adequate food for their children, purchase infant formula, or obtain essential nutritional supplements.
Health
Unsanitary living conditions, inadequate nutrition, and ongoing physical and psychological trauma have led to a sharp increase in illness among children. Weakened immune systems leave them especially vulnerable to viral and bacterial infections, tooth decay, and stunted growth.
Although some medicines are available, families often cannot afford even the most basic treatments—such as pain relief, fever reducers, or creams for skin infections—let alone more expensive or specialized medications.
As of September 2025, with 94% of hospitals destroyed, patients face extreme difficulty accessing doctors, surgical procedures, and essential pre- and post-partum care.
Exposure
For families in Gaza, inadequate shelter results in constant exposure to extreme weather conditions. During the summer months, children are at heightened risk of dehydration, chronic skin irritation, and increased exposure to insects and vermin. Winter brings even more devastating consequences, with infants and young children particularly vulnerable to hypothermia.
As of January 17, 2026, at least eight babies have died as a result of prolonged exposure to cold conditions. These tragedies occur amid nighttime temperatures of approximately 40°F (5°C), compounded by strong coastal winds and heavy rainfall. Most children lack adequate clothing or bedding, and many remain in soaked garments long after the rain has stopped. Families have almost no means of generating heat and are forced to rely on skin-to-skin contact as a last resort to keep their most vulnerable children warm.
