Over 60,000 Gaza Children Lose One Or Both Parents As Humanitarian Crisis Deepens

GENEVA, Oct 20  – More than 60,000 children in the Gaza Strip have lost one or both parents since the outbreak of hostilities, including during the year following the October 2025 ceasefire agreement, according to a report released by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on Tuesday, October 20, 2026.

Despite the official ceasefire entering its second year, UNICEF reported that over 340 children have been killed and hundreds more injured during this period as military strikes and humanitarian instability persist across the enclave.

The agency highlighted that approximately 800,000 children remain internally displaced across Gaza, with the majority sheltering in makeshift tents or unstable, bomb-damaged structures.

“An estimated 60,000 children in Gaza have seen either one or both parents killed during the conflict or since the ceasefire,” UNICEF stated, emphasizing that critical funding shortfalls are severely hampering international aid relief efforts.

UNICEF Appeals and Broader Enclave Impact

Key findings and diplomatic calls outlined in the UN agency’s assessment include:

• UN Security Council Resolution 2803: UNICEF urged all warring factions to adhere strictly to ceasefire terms, comply with UN Security Council Resolution 2803, and fulfill statutory obligations under international humanitarian law.
• Child Casualties Post-Ceasefire: Over 340 children have been killed and hundreds injured in the 12 months following the October 2025 ceasefire announcement.
• Displacement Conditions: Around 800,000 children remain in precarious living arrangements, lacking adequate shelter, food, and basic necessities.
• Infrastructure and Medical Disruption: Widespread physical destruction, severe disruptions to healthcare facilities, and persistent supply bottlenecks continue to exacerbate the humanitarian emergency.

UNICEF reiterated its urgent call for expanded humanitarian corridors and international funding support to mitigate the escalating child protection crisis in Gaza.

–NMT