Gaza and Israel Crisis

UNICEF welcomes the news of an agreement to secure a ceasefire and end the war in the Gaza Strip.

UNICEF is ready to scale up its response. However, the lives of over one million children, the lives of over one million children remain in immediate, and critical danger. 

The rights of every single child, no matter who or where they are, must be protected. 

The scale of humanitarian need is enormous. Since October 2023, thousands of children have been killed and thousands more injured in the Gaza strip. The crisis has left up to 1.9 million people – about 9 in 10 of Gaza’s population – internally displaced. A high risk of famine persists. Hunger and diseases, like polio, have resurfaced and threaten children’s health and well-being.  

UNICEF continues to call on all parties to allow safe, unimpeded access for the delivery of humanitarian aid, and for the immediate and safe release of all hostages.

HUMANITARIAN SITUATION IN GAZA   

As the agreement to secure a ceasefire moves forward, the situation remains catastrophic for children.

UNICEF, along with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the United Nations World Food Programme and the World Health Organization, have confirmed famine for more than half a million people in Gaza, based off an Integrated Food Security Phase Classification analysis.

Children and families continue to face the deadly effects of disease and malnutrition as the conflict had long cut them off from safe water, food and medicine.  

• The destruction of health and water facilities, coupled with overcrowded and unsanitary conditions, has led to disease outbreaks including the re-emergence of polio after being eradicated for 25 years.
• Food insecurity has worsened and exposes 320,000 children to the risk of acute malnutrition.
• Attacks on schools – many serving as shelters – have severely impacted the resumption of learning, leaving nearly 660,000 children out of school and potentially setting back their education by five years. 

Even as the agreement moves forward, the humanitarian needs of children in Gaza remain immense.

HOW IS UNICEF RESPONDING TO THE CRISIS IN GAZA?

Despite the challenging humanitarian and security situation, UNICEF remains in Gaza, working with partners to provide children and families with life-saving support and services, including:

• Safe Water;
• Essential medical supplies;
• Hygiene Kits;
• Emergency Famine Response;
• Therapeutic food and nutritional supplements;
• Mental health and psychosocial support;
• Emergency supplies like tarps and tents;
• Essential vaccines;
• Recreational activities for children; and
• Winter clothing, tarpaulins and other winter supplies.

Since January 2025, UNICEF has:

• Scaled up its Emergency Famine Response to provide treatment, and prevention of acute malnutrition among 180,000 vulnerable children, and pregnant and breastfeeding women.
• Distributed nutritional supplements, including high-energy biscuits to 224,000 people.
• Distributed over 2.1 million WASH items between January and May. These included hygiene kits, more than 1.5 million soap bars, sanitary pads, jerrycans, tarpaulins, and adult diapers.  
• Supported over 242,329 children with primary health services, including health consultations and vaccinations.
• Provided 112,000 children, 51% of them girls, with learning materials, stationery and recreational kits distributed.
• Screened more than 506,509 children for acute malnutrition and admitting 16,817 to Moderate Acute Malnutrition and 2,607 to Severe Acute Malnutrition treatment programs.
• Delivered 110,684 sets of ready-to-use complementary food supporting 1,845 children, and Vitamin A to over 90,000 children and 43,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women.
• Supported 421,000 people with multi-purpose cash transfers.
• Supported 1.5 million people, including 600,000 children, with access to safe water through water trucking, system repairs, and by keeping desalination plants and water facilities running.

More work remains to be done. Donate today to help us reach more children and families affected by this crisis.

IS UNICEF IN ISRAEL? 

In high-income countries such as Israel, governments generally have the capacity to respond to emergencies. In extraordinary circumstances, upon request from the Government, UNICEF may consider extending support, such as psychosocial support for children.   

UNICEF Israel is one of UNICEF’s 32 National Committees, like UNICEF Canada. It was established in 2009 and works to raise awareness of children’s rights in Israel and to raise funds for UNICEF’s life-saving work across the world.