GAZA, (PIC)
In a scene that encapsulates the deep social cost of the ongoing war, a vast generation of children is growing in the Gaza Strip who have lost one of the most important pillars of stability in their lives: the family. Orphanhood is no longer an isolated individual case, but has transformed into a collective phenomenon reflecting the scale of disintegration that has afflicted the societal structure, in light of an extended war and a suffocating siege that restrict the simplest requirements of life.
A shocking indicator
In this context, the Ministry of Social Development in Gaza announced, on Wednesday, that the number of orphans has risen to 64,616 children, including 55,157 who lost their fathers during the recent war, in a shocking indicator of the deepening humanitarian crisis and its transformation into a long-term reality.
The Ministry explained, in a statement, that these figures reflect the scale of the catastrophe experienced by orphaned children, in light of the continuation of the war and its repercussions, noting that their living conditions are characterized by extreme cruelty, in light of widespread displacement, loss of shelter, and the disintegration of the family structure, alongside the accelerating collapse in basic services.
It clarified that orphans face complex challenges, including the deterioration of healthcare, the disruption of the educational process, and a lack of food and medicine, which places their lives and health in a circle of direct danger, especially with the continued restrictions on the entry of aid and the erosion of the capacities of local institutions.
The Ministry mentioned that this statistic was prepared through the “National System for Orphans,” which was developed under exceptional circumstances and is considered one of the largest specialized databases, in an attempt to tally the scale of the phenomenon and deal with it, despite limited possibilities. It pointed out that Gaza Governorate recorded the highest percentage of orphans with 21,125 children, equivalent to about 32.7% of the total cases.
In a sign of the widening scope of the crisis, Social Development confirmed that the rise in the numbers of orphans intersects with other indicators of the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Strip, including rising rates of poverty and unemployment, and an increase in the number of families supported by children, in addition to the widening social protection gap in light of unprecedented pressure on the humanitarian system.
It noted that “Arab Orphan Day” constitutes an occasion to shed light on this worsening tragedy, and to push towards enhancing awareness of the rights of orphans, and supporting initiatives aimed at improving their living and psychological conditions, at a time when the ability of families and society to respond to the scale of needs is declining.
The Ministry stressed the necessity of strengthening social solidarity, and providing a safe and stable environment that guarantees orphaned children their right to live in dignity.
Social Development called on local and international institutions to intensify their efforts to support this group, by providing material and living care, rehabilitating damaged facilities, and ensuring legal protection for children’s rights, alongside providing psychological and social support, in an attempt to limit the effects of the war on a generation being born and raised in light of successive crises.
Numbers do not reflect the tragedy
United Nations data indicates that more than 17,000 children in Gaza are separated from their parents, and in addition to their psychological suffering, children in Gaza face harsh living conditions due to the lack of water, food, and medicine. According to the official website of the United Nations, about 1.9 million people, more than half of whom are children, live in miserable conditions inside camps in the Gaza Strip, where their daily suffering increases as the Israeli attacks continue.
In this context, the regional spokesperson for “UNICEF,” Salim Oweis, confirms that official figures do not reflect the full scale of the tragedy, noting that many children lost their parents in direct strikes on their homes or neighborhoods, while some suffer from permanent disabilities.
Oweis revealed, during his talk to Al Jazeera, that more than three thousand children lost both parents together, and many of them undertake the care of their siblings alone,” adding “we are working on reuniting children with their extended families, and providing psychological and material support, but the need is much greater than our current capabilities.”
The regional spokesperson for UNICEF, Salim Oweis, confirms that official figures do not reflect the full scale of the tragedy, noting that thousands of children lost their parents in direct bombardment, while others suffer from permanent disabilities. He adds that more than three thousand children lost both parents together, and that a number of them have begun to undertake the care of their siblings in light of the absence of any effective protection network.
Long-term repercussions
The Ministry warns of long-term repercussions of this phenomenon, including the risks of social disintegration, dropping out of education, and early labor, in light of an unstable environment that lacks the minimum requirements of care.
Despite this reality, the local community plays a vital role in mitigating the severity of the crisis, as dozens of families, despite their displacement and the loss of their homes, took the initiative to embrace orphaned children and provide a safer environment for them. Youth associations and initiatives are also active in providing psychological and material support, and organizing activities to try to rescue children from the cycle of trauma.
In a psychological reading, specialist Arjuwan Hassan sees that the concept of orphanhood in Gaza has exceeded its traditional meaning, to include most children who have lost a sense of safety as a result of scenes of bombardment and death, confirming that the simplest care needs are not available, and that the absence of stability prevents the provision of effective psychological support.
She points out that orphans often remain in the care of relatives, but the conditions of war make it difficult to embrace them properly, in light of the absence of a suitable environment for behavioral and social rehabilitation, especially after the destruction of care institutions, as there were several institutions dedicated to orphan care that provided safe places for their stay, but now there is no capacity for any of the governmental or civil institutions to embrace them in light of the continuation of the Israeli attacks.
In this framework, the Israeli occupation army destroyed a number of children’s care homes and centers, among them the Al-Rabi’ institution in Gaza, the Childhood Protection Center in Deir al-Balah, the Al-Amal Institute for Orphan Care, Mabarrat al-Rahma, and the “SOS” Children’s Village in Rafah, alongside widespread destruction of nurseries, schools, and parks.
This scene confirms that Gaza faces a complex humanitarian crisis, not limited to the direct losses of the war, but extending to affect the future of an entire generation, being raised in an environment burdened by loss and deprivation, amidst challenges that exceed the capabilities of the local community and require an urgent and comprehensive international response.
