In Pictures

Gallery

In Pictures: The toll on Gaza’s children

After losing their homes and watching family members die, many children in Gaza require psychological support.

An estimated 60,000 civilians - more than half of whom are children - are still living in shelters across the Gaza Strip, including UN-run schools. 
By Karim Haddad
Published On 12 Oct 2014

Politicians and donors from around the world are meeting with Palestinian officials in Cairo to talk about rebuilding Gaza. The conservatively estimated price tag from the last war is $4bn, and aid agencies have said that under current restrictions, the process will take 20 years.

But the chance of another round of violence in the coming years remains high. For those who have survived previous wars, the psychological costs have already been immense – especially for the children.

More than half of the population in Gaza is below the age of 18. Most of the youth in this besieged territory have already witnessed three wars, each one worse than the last. At least 2,150 people in Gaza were killed during the most recent war, including more than 500 children. More than 3,500 children were injured, many now struggling with life-long disabilities.

The psychological trauma endured by all the young survivors is hard to overestimate: The United Nations believes that over half of the children in Gaza now need significant support. Tens of thousands witnessed firsthand the killings of family members, neighbours and friends, and many lost their homes.

Today, as residents look to rebuild from the rubble of their demolished homes, a considerable amount of psychological and social rebuilding must happen simultaneously.

Widad Al Gola and Samir Abu Hassan have 11 children between them. Their homes were destroyed by an Israeli air strike. 
Advertisement
Ahlam, their daughter, says she loves going to school, but worries about resuming studies in classrooms that are now associated with painful memories of displacement and war.
Their youngest son, Said, does not show any outward signs of trauma but his parents remain concerned for all their children.
According to the United Nations, 228 schools in Gaza were damaged during the last war with Israel; 26 were beyond repair.
One week before classes were to resume, volunteers did what they could to entertain children at this school-turned-shelter.
More than 500 students from UN-run schools in Gaza were orphaned in the last war.
Advertisement
Even on the best of days, life in Gaza is difficult for children.
A child poses with his family(***)s motorcycle, which was destroyed along with their home in an Israeli air strike on a residential area in Rafah.
Many children in Gaza have become cautious and suspicious of strangers.
The neighbourhood in Rafah where these boys live was decimated by an air strike, but they still flash the ubiquitous peace/victory sign.  
Hossam, Jihad and Fayyez proudly wave flags the day after the last ceasefire was announced. 
The building across the street from these children was levelled by an Israeli air strike. 
Karim was born at the start of the latest war on Gaza. Like many others, his home was badly damaged during the air strikes.
Al Amal is Gaza(***)s only real orphanage. Although it has capacity for just 100 children, the facility has taken in close to 300 who lost their parents in the war this year.