Almost all Gaza’s children need psychological help, as UNRWA scales up support

Palestinian children in Gaza continue to face "extreme protection risks" as a result of the devastation of Israel's war on Gaza, with almost all needing psychological support.

According to UNICEF's Child Protection Area of Responsibility report, some 1.1 million children require child protection services, and nearly all need mental health and psychological support.

Between January and October, 462,649 children received psychological support, while 139,038 carers were also given support.

The report, which documents the period up to October, further warned that one in four families has sent children, some as young as six, into hazardous or exploitative work. This is especially prevalent among vulnerable families.

"Urgent support is needed to restore access to mental care, case management, family tracing, inclusive services, and safe environments," the report states, noting that 658,000 children are out of school.

"These are not just statistics – they are children with names, families, and futures. They are babies in need of care, students without classrooms, and young lives in search of safety and stability," it added.

As children continue to face dangers in war-torn Gaza, the fragile ceasefire has allowed the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) to scale up its service provision to the enclave.

Agency chief Philippe Lazzarini said that UNRWA staffers have "seized the opportunities offered by the ceasefire," with teachers bringing in-person lessons to 50,000 children and medical personnel delivering 40 per cent of the enclave's primary healthcare.

"Our expertise, workforce [and] community trust is critical for a successful recovery [and] political path forward," Lazzarini added.

UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper called for Israel to increase its aid entry into the enclave, adding that "in the last couple of days, after over a year's delay, we've managed to get UK-funded tents into Gaza that will now provide critical shelter for 12,000 people."

She added: "We will continue to do all we can to urge unhindered humanitarian access, the opening of all the crossings, the implementation of the peace plan, and a path to peace".

Despite the ceasefire agreed in October, Israel has continued to violate the truce on an almost daily basis, according to the Gaza government media office. 

On Tuesday, Israeli forces killed a Palestinian in the Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza, according to the Palestinian news agency Wafa.

The agency also reported that Israeli artillery shelled areas east of Khan Younis, as well as the northern and eastern parts of the Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza.

Israeli forces continued demolitions in the area it occupies in Gaza City, with Al Jazeera reporting that an explosive-laden robot detonated near the Shujaiya intersection, east of Gaza City.