06/03/2026
Children in Gaza endure harrowing conditions amid the ruins left by the ongoing war, as residential neighborhoods have been reduced to rubble, posing a constant threat to their lives and depriving them of a normal childhood.
Palestinian local reports confirm that many children have lost their lives due to collapsing destroyed homes or falling debris while playing nearby. Among these victims was Asil Humaid, a young boy who fell from the remains of his family’s destroyed home, battling severe injuries for days before succumbing to his wounds.
His father, Mohammed Humaid, recounts the tragedy, “Asil was at home and went up to the roof with his mother. He fell from the second floor, suffering a brain hemorrhage.”
He continues, “He spent 14 days in intensive care, and on March 22, 2025, he passed away at the age of four. He had no fault in this war. So many children have been killed. We call on the world, on anyone with compassion and humanity, to let us live like other children in the world.”
Beyond the dangers of rubble, Gaza's children are deprived of their most basic right to play, as destruction has engulfed most residential areas.
Young Mohammed Thahir said, "There is nowhere to play. Everywhere is filled with rubble. We fear falling or having stones collapse on us and getting hurt. Even hospitals don’t function properly to treat the injured. We don’t know what to do in this country."
As the war persists, UN experts warn that nearly all of Gaza’s one million children are suffering from “severe psychological trauma” amid acute food shortages.
James Elder, spokesperson for UNICEF, highlighted that children who experience such trauma can only begin to recover when they return to a stable life. He said, “Psychologists used to say our greatest nightmare was children returning home, only for the war to start again.”
The 16-month-long war has left behind unprecedented levels of destruction. UN estimates indicate that the amount of debris has reached 51 million tons, while 60 per cent of Gaza’s homes - approximately 292,000 houses - have been destroyed, along with 65 per cent of the roads, making life in Gaza nearly unlivable.
Children in Gaza endure harrowing conditions amid the ruins left by the ongoing war, as residential neighborhoods have been reduced to rubble, posing a constant threat to their lives and depriving them of a normal childhood. UNIFEED
