Children are being buried before they have a chance to live
The unfolding situation in Gaza is beyond catastrophic. Since the violence escalated in October 2023, children have been killed, injured, and orphaned – on average, 28 children have been killed each day – that’s the equivalent of an entire classroom, every single day.
Now, children are dying of starvation as severe malnutrition spreads rapidly across the Gaza Strip.
Since April this year, the reported number of children who have died from malnutrition has jumped from 52 to 80. Yet, instead of improving access to lifesaving supplies, a new non-UN aid distribution plan has made the situation worse with almost no aid being allowed in, supplies being blocked at the border, and food prices soaring.
UNICEF teams remain on the ground in Gaza providing emergency services across health, nutrition, clean water and child protection. This includes screening and treating children for malnutrition, providing psychosocial support to children and their caregivers, repairing damaged water infrastructure, and getting aid and lifesaving supplies in whenever possible.
The world must not look away as children fight for survival. Please donate today to support UNICEF’s ongoing efforts to be there for every child. No matter what.
UNICEF is calling for all parties to unconditionally protect children from harm, in accordance with human rights law.
Children of Gaza Crisis
Children are paying the heaviest price as the violence and fighting continue; please donate today to help protect children in Gaza.
Mohammad’s wife, Reem, walked for hours with two of their eight children to reach a non-UN aid distribution point in Rafah, hoping to bring back food for her family. She never made it home. She was shot and killed by a sniper.
Across Gaza, families are being forced to travel long distances to access food and essential supplies at just four non-UN aid distribution sites. When they arrive, they face overcrowding and a chaotic and dangerous situation. Between 27 May and 7 July alone, insecurity at these aid distribution sites reportedly led to the deaths of nearly 1,000 people and left thousands more injured – many of them parents and children simply trying to access basic essential items.
How is UNICEF responding in Gaza?
Despite the challenging humanitarian and security situation, UNICEF and partners are actively present in the Gaza Strip providing immediate lifesaving humanitarian services, including:
- Treating children for malnutrition
- Providing access to clean water
- Reuniting children with their families and providing mental health services
- Immunising children against preventable diseases
- Providing temporary learning spaces.
During the last ceasefire, our teams delivered over 600 trucks of lifesaving supplies a day, with UNICEF and our partners even delivering aid door-to-door, reaching malnourished children and pregnant women in their place of refuge.
Between 19 May and 2 July, an average of 30 UN trucks per day have been allowed to cross into Gaza, which includes UNICEF nutrition products, water treatment supplies and vaccines. But this is nowhere near enough. We stand ready, with even more supplies close to the border, to scale up our response when allowed.
How will my donation help children in Gaza?
Even in the face of an escalating crisis, UNICEF continues to deliver for every child, no matter what.
- $100 could provide 16,667 water purification tablets, each able to create up to 5 litres of clean drinking water.
- $135 could provide 252 sachets of lifesaving therapeutic food that could help treat two children with severe malnutrition.
- $500 could help provide close to 1,380 vaccine doses, ensuring that children’s futures are protected against preventable but dangerous diseases.
- 80¢on average, 80 cents to every dollar spent for the past three years went directly to helping children in need, including long-term programs, emergency response and community education.
- 20¢on average, 14 cents to every dollar spent for the past three years went to essential fundraising costs that helped us generate more impact for children, 6 cents went to admin costs, such as keeping your personal data safe.
How do we use each dollar donated?
Your gift will support children impacted by this emergency, and crisis around the world. If you choose to donate monthly or should we receive more funds than is needed for this emergency, your gift will support UNICEF's work where the need is greatest. Find out more about our financial management in our annual report.
Looking for other ways to support children in the Gaza Crisis?
Is UNICEF helping children in Israel?
No matter where they live, a child is a child. UNICEF is calling for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, and for the immediate, safe, and unconditional release of all abducted children, and the prevention and end to any grave violations against children, including killing and injuring children.
In high-income countries like Israel, governments generally have adequate capacity and resources to respond to emergencies. In these countries, UNICEF programs are not required unless requested by the Government, which Israel has not requested.
This UNICEF Australia appeal is specifically for children in Gaza where UNICEF has teams and programs.
Our work to protect and advocate for all children across Israel, Gaza and the West Bank will continue. Every single child, no matter who or where they are, must be protected.
To learn more about the work we do in Israel, please visit: https://www.unicef.org.il/en/faq/
Top image: A young child at a food distribution site in Gaza. Photo credit: © UNICEF/UNI836421/Nateel
Fundraising image: An 11-year-old boy's home in Gaza City was partially damaged during recent airstrikes. Photo credit: © UNICEF/UNI448937/Ajjour
Philanthropy image: A 14-year-old boy carries mattresses and blankets on his head while his family follows him to an emergency shelter in the Gaza Strip. Photo credit: © UNICEF/UNI448940/El Baba