In Gaza today, the lives of children are being erased by hunger, war, and the collapse of education. Instead of enjoying childhood moments in schools or playgrounds, they run from bombings and sleep on bare ground, dreaming only of bread and safety. Parents say survival has replaced laughter in homes across the enclave.
Doctors report heartbreaking cases like 18-month-old Mohammed, who weighed just six kilograms after losing a third of his body weight. Malnutrition has spread rapidly, with medical charities warning of a 2,000 percent increase in cases since the war began. UNICEF confirmed that thousands of children under five are now suffering acute malnutrition every month.
The numbers reveal the scale of the tragedy. More than 100 children have already died from starvation, while over 16,000 were diagnosed with severe malnutrition in the first five months of this year alone. Hunger is worsened by displacement, trauma, and the near-collapse of Gaza's hospitals. Only 16 of 36 hospitals remain partially functional, leaving millions without proper medical care.
The loss extends beyond food and medicine. Gaza's education system has crumbled, with over 660,000 children out of school for a third year in a row. At least 17,000 students and 1,000 education workers have been killed, according to Palestinian authorities. Classrooms have been reduced to rubble, and learning has almost disappeared.
Behind every number is a story of grief and survival. Razan, just 11 years old, lost her family and leg in an airstrike, joining thousands of amputee children. Aid groups say Gaza's children are facing hunger, injury, and trauma that will scar them for life.
Rights organizations and the United Nations are calling for an immediate ceasefire and unrestricted humanitarian aid. Without urgent change, Gaza risks losing an entire generation to hunger, violence, and the collapse of education.
Source: (https://www.arabnews.com/node/2613808/middle-east)