Celebrations erupted around the world when the ceasefire was announced, but for people in Gaza, the sense of relief was short-lived. While the sound of airstrikes may have softened, the daily struggle to survive has only deepened. Families continue to face violence, hunger, and displacement, relying on humanitarian aid as a lifeline.
Since the ceasefire came into effect on 10 October 2025, 67 children – almost two children each day – have been killed. These are not just statistics; these are children’s lives lost amid ongoing hostilities, which are causing fresh waves of destruction and displacement.
"The reality imposed on Gaza’s children remains brutally simple. There is no safe place for them and the world cannot continue to normalise their suffering."
Violence continues to devastate families
Air strikes and drone attacks have continued to hit parts of Gaza where families, already displaced multiple times, have sought refuge in makeshift shelters. Local authorities report that hundreds have been killed, and many more injured, including children.
UN Women’s Chief of Humanitarian Action, Sofia Calltorp, describes a reality far removed from peace.
“Women told me again and again: there may be a ceasefire, but the war is not over. The attacks are fewer, but the killings continue.”
The devastating reality is; a ceasefire does not mean the humanitarian crisis is over. In fact, it is far from it.
Gaza's children are not a statistics
Winter deepens Gaza’s humanitarian crisis
Most families have already lost everything – homes, belongings, livelihoods, and for far too many, loved ones. They now live in tents or among the ruins of damaged buildings. Famine and severe malnutrition remain deadly threats, and with winter setting in, exposure to cold, potential flooding and disease outbreaks puts children’s lives at greater risk.
Maysaa, a mother of six children, explains their ongoing struggles as heavy rain, and the onset of winter adds another layer of hardship.
"We lost all our clothes before the ceasefire when our home was threatened, and we had only ten minutes to flee. We took nothing. At night, with the strong winds and the beginning of the rain, the tent collapsed on me and my children and water poured inside. I now have only two mattresses and two blankets for six children inside this torn tent by the sea."
Seven decades of development wiped out
The conflict has left Gaza’s economy in complete ruins, erasing seven decades of progress. Unemployment has soared above 80 per cent, and multidimensional poverty – when people face overlapping challenges like a lack of income, healthcare, education, and safe living conditions – now touches nearly every household, affecting children for generations.
The destruction is staggering: 94 per cent of hospitals have been damaged or destroyed, 85 per cent of water and sanitation facilities lie in ruins, and 97 per cent of schools and universities have been damaged or destroyed. Almost every child has been out of the classroom for more than two years, cutting off education, skills, and opportunities.
Eleven-year-old Rafif explains the impact on her life.
“I liked my life before the war. But now it is very difficult. I wake up in the morning and have to search for water and things to burn, to cook food. In the past, I used to wake up and go to school. I was very happy then. My father used to buy me pretty clothes for Eid.”
Hearing loss is soaring across the Gaza Strip
Amid the devastation, a less visible crisis is emerging; hearing loss. An estimated 10,000 children have suffered hearing damage from constant explosions, deafening noise levels, or untreated ear infections – with the true number of people affected, including adults, may be as high as 35,000.
Without the ability to hear, many children become withdrawn, anxious, or deeply depressed. It can limit language and cognitive development, and increase daily safety risks as children cannot hear sirens, horns or warnings.
Early intervention can change everything.
Across Gaza, UNICEF is fitting children with hearing aids. The small devices carry enormous impact –restoring communication, easing isolation, and giving children a sense of dignity and connection.
These moments of healing are powerful, but the needs throughout Gaza remain vast.
Humanitarian aid remains a lifeline for families
Despite the immense challenges, UNICEF continues to provide lifesaving support to children and their families – delivering lifesaving nutrition, clean water, medicine, vaccines, tents, warm clothes and blankets and other essentials to families who have been displaced from their homes. Our teams are also setting up safe spaces where children can learn, play, and receive psychosocial support to help them cope with the trauma of war. At the same time, UNICEF is working with partners to restore critical services like healthcare and sanitation.
Across Gaza, the rhythm of daily survival continues – families searching for food and water, mothers trying to keep children warm, and aid workers navigating dangerous and unpredictable conditions to reach communities.
Humanitarian aid is the thread holding families together as they navigate a ceasefire that remains perilous and uncertain. For the children of Gaza, the war has not ended. It has simply changed shape.
"The world promised them it would stop and that we would protect them. Now we must act like it."
Children of Gaza Crisis
The ceasefire brings hope for children in Gaza, but the needs remain urgent. Help us scale up our response.
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