Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Palestinian Ministry of Health: Two were martyred in Israeli shelling that targeted a besieged house in the town of Qabatiya in Jenin
At least 68 dead in migrant shipwreck off Yemen: IOM
Trump: We want to feed the people in Gaza, we do not want them to starve.
US President Donald Trump: We will impose sanctions on Russia if it does not end the war on Ukraine.
Israeli media: Polls show that 52% oppose Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while only 29% support him.
Israeli media: 32% of Americans still support "Israel's" war on Hamas, while 60% oppose it.
Israeli media: Core US support for "Israel" hits its lowest, while support for Palestine reaches its highest levels.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent reports martyrs, injuries in Israeli bombardment of home in Heker al-Jame area in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza.
Al-Quds Governorate: Today, the spatial division of Al-Aqsa Mosque began in a public and dangerous manner, and we warn of a religious war in the region
The Ministry of Health in Gaza: This brings the total number of victims of famine and malnutrition to 175, including 93 children

Nearly 17,000 children in Gaza left unaccompanied or separated: UNICEF

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 2 Feb 2024 19:32
  • 3 Shares
3 Min Read

Oftentimes, due to the extreme state of shock or injury, children are unable to provide their names, UNICEF spokesman Jonathan Crickx said.

  • x
  • Palestinians line up for free food distribution during the ongoing Israeli air and ground offensive in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, Friday, Feb. 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Hatem Ali)
    Palestinians line up for free food distribution during the ongoing Israeli air and ground offensive in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, Friday, Feb. 2, 2024 (AP Photo/Hatem Ali)

As of Friday, the United Nations reported an estimate indicating that approximately 17,000 children in the Gaza Strip have been left without parental care or separated, a situation persisting nearly four months into the war.

"Each one has a heartbreaking story of loss and grief," Jonathan Crickx, spokesman for the UN children's agency UNICEF in the occupied Palestinian territories, told a media briefing in Geneva via video-link. "This figure corresponds to one percent of the overall displaced population -- 1.7 million people."

Each one "is a child who is coming to terms with a horrible new reality".

Crickx mentioned that identifying the children poses significant challenges, given that they are often brought to hospitals in a state of injury or shock, making it "extremely difficult" to ascertain their identities. In some cases, the children are unable to provide even their names.

Stories of loss and grief: At least 17,000 children are estimated to be unaccompanied or separated from their parents in the #Gaza Strip

UNICEF State of Palestine Chief of Communication Jonathan Crickx at today's press briefing

Read the full briefing: https://t.co/O6TH9omdUW pic.twitter.com/InYtUHbjI5

— UNICEF MENA - يونيسف الشرق الأوسط وشمال إفريقيا (@UNICEFmena) February 2, 2024

He noted that in times of war, it is customary for extended families to assume responsibility for caring for children who have lost their parents.

However, "due to the sheer lack of food, water or shelter, extended families are themselves distressed and face challenges to immediately take care of another child as they themselves are struggling to cater for their own children and family", said Crickx.

Related News

Parents helpless as famine strips Gaza’s children to skin and bone

Gaza’s population shrinks by 10% amid Israeli genocide

In a broader sense, UNICEF categorizes separated children as those who are without their parents, while unaccompanied children are defined as those who are not only separated but also lack the presence of other relatives.

Read more: IOF turned Gaza into children's biggest graveyard: Euro-Med Monitor

Elsewhere in his comments, Crickx expressed that the ongoing war was significantly impacting the mental health of children in Gaza.

"They present symptoms like extremely high levels of persistent anxiety, loss of appetite, they can’t sleep, they have emotional outbursts or panic every time they hear the bombings," he explained.

Prior to the outbreak of the war, UNICEF had projected that over 500,000 children in the Gaza Strip required mental health and psycho-social support. 
UNICEF now holds the belief that "almost all children are in need" of mental health and psycho-social support, surpassing the initial estimate to now encompass more than one million children.

"Children don't have anything to do with this conflict. Yet they are suffering like no child should ever suffer," said Crickx. "No child should ever be exposed to the level of violence seen on October 7 -- or to the level of violence that we have witnessed since then."

He urged for a ceasefire to enable UNICEF to conduct a thorough assessment of unaccompanied or separated children, trace their relatives, and provide essential mental health support.

Read more: 'Israel' murdered 11,000 children in Gaza in 108 days

  • children in Gaza
  • trauma
  • Palestinian Children
  • Gaza
  • traumatized children
  • Human Rights
  • UNICEF
War on Gaza

War on Gaza

Most Read

A rescued crew member from the ETERNITY C vessel in a video released by the Yemeni Armed Forces on July 28, 2025 (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemen Navy reveals fate of targeted Eternity C ship crew

  • Politics
  • 28 Jul 2025
An Israeli tank explodes following an ambush by al-Qassam Brigades in Gaza, Occupied Palestine, undated (Al-Qassam Military Media)

Al-Qassam strikes Israeli vehicles in Gaza, inflicts casualties

  • Politics
  • 30 Jul 2025
UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

  • Politics
  • 1 Aug 2025
Protesters chant anti-Israeli slogans as they carry a banner that reads:" Freedom for Palestine, Alliance stop the war," during a demonstration in support of Palestinians in Gaza, outside the Israeli embassy, in Athens, Monday, June 9, 2025 (AP)

Athens mayor slams Israeli ambassador over Gaza war, graffiti claim

  • Politics
  • 3 Aug 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
A member of the al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, takes part in a parade as he celebrates a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and the Israeli regime in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Sunday, January 19, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Al-Qassam: We’ll allow aid to Israeli captives if Gaza siege ends

Freed Lebanese freedom fighter Georges Abdallah during an interview on Al Mayadeen, which aired on Sunday, August 3, 2025 (Al Mayadeen screengrab)
Politics

Exclusive: Resistance key to building state, Georges Abdallah says

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres gives a statement about the situation in Gaza at UN headquarters, Friday, June 27, 2025 (AP)
Politics

UN warns Gaza faces water crisis, looming famine under Israeli siege

Israeli soldiers drive their armored personnel carrier along the Gaza Strip, in southern occupied Palestine, Wednesday, July 30, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Ex-Israeli general says Gaza starvation campaign isolated 'Israel'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS