UN Estimates 17,000 Gaza Children Left Unaccompanied Amid Ongoing Conflict

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) estimates that approximately 17,000 children in the Gaza Strip have been left unaccompanied or separated from their families as a result of the ongoing conflict that began in October 2023. This figure accounts for about 1% of the 1.7 million displaced individuals currently within the enclave.

According to Jonathan Crickx, UNICEF’s chief of communication for the occupied Palestinian territories, the exact number of affected children is difficult to verify due to current conditions on the ground. Many children are reportedly arriving at medical facilities in a state of trauma or physical injury, and are often unable to provide their names.

Challenges in Family Reunification and Care

While it is common in conflict zones for extended families to care for unaccompanied children, the humanitarian situation in Gaza has made this increasingly difficult. Many families lack access to sufficient food, water, and shelter and are unable to take in additional dependents, even those from their own extended households.

UNICEF distinguishes between "separated children," who are without their parents, and "unaccompanied children," who are without both parents and other adult relatives.

Mental Health Needs Reach Critical Levels

UNICEF also reports a sharp rise in mental health needs among children across Gaza. Before the current conflict, an estimated 500,000 children required mental health or psychosocial support. That number has now more than doubled, with over one million children showing symptoms such as persistent anxiety, sleep disturbances, emotional dysregulation, and fear triggered by ongoing bombings.

Crickx described the mental health impact as widespread, noting that “almost all children” in Gaza now need psychological support.

Ongoing Humanitarian Conditions

Since the onset of hostilities in October 2023, the Palestinian Ministry of Health reports that over 27,100 people have been killed, including approximately 11,500 children. More than 66,200 individuals have been injured, and thousands remain missing.

Displacement continues to be a critical issue, with families repeatedly relocating due to military activity. Most displaced persons are now located in the southern governorate of Rafah, which has been identified by Israeli authorities as a future target of military operations. The displacement has led to communication breakdowns between family members and caregivers, particularly during network outages.

UNICEF Calls for Ceasefire

UNICEF has reiterated its call for a ceasefire, highlighting the urgent need to safely identify and reunite unaccompanied children with their relatives, deliver mental health services, and provide basic humanitarian aid. Crickx emphasized the necessity of stable conditions to assess the situation and deliver targeted interventions.

According to UNICEF, children have been severely affected despite having no direct involvement in the conflict. The agency stresses that all efforts must be made to ensure their protection and well-being in accordance with international humanitarian law.

Source:
Al Jazeera, “UN estimates 17,000 Gaza children left unaccompanied amid Israel’s war,” 2 February 2024.