A senior Gaza health official has disclosed that the ongoing Israeli military campaign has left a staggering 38,000 Palestinian children orphaned. The devastating impact of the conflict has also widowed over 13,900 women in the besieged Gaza Strip.
Civil Defense crews in Gaza Governorate were able to retrieve the remains of 4 martyrs from the Shurab family home near Palestine Stadium, west of Gaza City. pic.twitter.com/olqPcliot8
— Eye on Palestine (@EyeonPalestine) January 23, 2025
According to Zaher al-Wahidi from Gaza’s Health Ministry, the relentless Israeli assault has resulted in the loss of at least one parent for a staggering 32,151 children. Even more heartbreaking, 4,417 children have lost their mothers, while 1,918 have become completely orphaned, losing both parents.
Delayed farewell; infinite grief | Gaza. pic.twitter.com/Au9Hq4JLy5
— TIMES OF GAZA (@Timesofgaza) January 23, 2025
“These figures reflect the extent of the pain that the people of Gaza have suffered, which requires everyone to work urgently to alleviate the suffering of orphans and affected families and rebuild their lives,” al-Wahidi emphasized.
The dire situation in Gaza is further compounded by the severe damage to the region’s education system. The UN agency UNRWA reported that close to 660,000 children are currently out of school, and over 14,500 children have been killed in the ongoing aggression on Gaza.
UNICEF has also sounded the alarm over a looming mental health crisis affecting nearly all 1.1 million children in Gaza. The relentless bombardment, loss of loved ones, and worsening humanitarian crisis have left many children grappling with nightmares, severe anxiety, and paralyzing fear. Experts warn that the profound psychological effects of the war could haunt these children for generations.
Source: Agencies (edited and translated by Al-Manar English Website)
