Orphans
What is the mental health impact of the Gaza conflict on orphaned children?
The Gaza conflict has left more than 30,000 children orphaned, including 4,700 who have lost both parents and are the only survivors of their families. After witnessing violence and experiencing profound loss, these children are suffering from severe psychological trauma including depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. Mental health experts warn that this suffering is likely to develop into more serious ailments and disorders without urgent intervention. All children in Gaza are experiencing significant psychological distress, with orphans being particularly vulnerable as they navigate trauma without parental support, highlighting the critical need for specialized mental health services in a region where healthcare infrastructure has been severely compromised.
Watch clip answer (00:38m)
Al Jazeera English
00:22 - 01:00
How has the Israeli bombardment affected Gaza's healthcare system and orphaned children?
Israeli attacks have destroyed or heavily damaged more than 80% of health facilities in Gaza, creating a critical healthcare crisis where injured and sick children are left without adequate medical care. Many orphaned children now suffer from serious conditions including blast injuries, amputations, and disabilities that require long-term rehabilitation. These vulnerable children face both physical trauma and psychological challenges, having lost family members while experiencing extreme violence, creating an urgent need for comprehensive care and mental health support in a system that has been devastated.
Watch clip answer (00:24m)Al Jazeera English
01:58 - 02:23
What is the current situation for children displaced by conflict in Gaza?
In Gaza, approximately one million people are displaced, with half being children who have been severely impacted by Israeli bombardments. During evacuations, many families became separated in the chaos, leaving children stranded or in damaged shelters without guardians. These children have become a traumatized generation, stripped of basic safety and security. The displaced children live in constant fear that their situation may worsen if the current fragile ceasefire collapses. They represent a particularly vulnerable population within the broader humanitarian crisis, facing not only the physical dangers of conflict but also profound psychological trauma from their experiences.
Watch clip answer (00:21m)Al Jazeera English
02:25 - 02:46
What happened to 9-year-old Ramas during the Israeli airstrike in Gaza?
Nine-year-old Ramas survived an Israeli airstrike that targeted her home in Al Zaytun neighborhood in southern Gaza, killing her parents, sister, and two brothers. She suffered burns and injuries from the first missile, while the second missile claimed the lives of all her family members. Remarkably, Ramas survived six days unconscious under debris following the attack. Ramas was found alive after the devastating strike that left her as the only survivor from her immediate family. Her aunt is now her only remaining relative. This heartbreaking story represents just one of thousands of children orphaned by the ongoing conflict in Gaza, highlighting the severe human toll of the violence.
Watch clip answer (00:40m)Al Jazeera English
01:17 - 01:57
What is happening to children in Gaza and how is the Al Amal orphanage responding?
Children in Gaza are enduring devastating trauma, having witnessed the destruction of their homes and the loss of their parents in the ongoing conflict. Over 30,000 children have become orphans, facing severe emotional distress and physical injuries amid the violence. The Al Amal orphanage in Gaza is attempting to support these vulnerable survivors despite operating with severely limited resources following Israeli bombardments. The orphanage is striving to help traumatized children like 9-year-old Ramas maintain hope and stability in the aftermath of such profound loss, though the challenges remain immense as they work to help these children hold onto life.
Watch clip answer (00:17m)
Al Jazeera English
00:01 - 00:18
How has the conflict in Gaza affected children?
In Gaza, half of the 1 million displaced people are children, many of whom have become separated from their families during Israeli bombardments. These children are often left stranded or placed in damaged shelters without guardians, creating a crisis of vulnerable youth without protection. The ongoing conflict has created an entire generation of traumatized children who have been stripped of their basic safety and security. As they flee with their families through dangerous conditions, many become separated in the chaos, leaving them alone and vulnerable in an already devastating humanitarian situation.
Watch clip answer (00:16m)Al Jazeera English
02:25 - 02:41