New York, March 24 (SANA) The United Nations said more than one million children in the Gaza Strip urgently need psychological and social support amid the ongoing Israeli war since Oct. 7, 2023, which has severely affected mental health, infrastructure and basic services.
Sima Alami, a youth and adolescent programme specialist at the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), said in remarks to UN News that 96 percent of children in Gaza feel that death is imminent.
She said adolescents and young people are also facing serious psychological distress, with around 61 percent suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, 38 percent from depression and 41 percent from anxiety. She added that one in five adults thinks about suicide almost daily.
Rising child marriage amid displacement and poverty
A recent UNFPA study found that girls are among the most vulnerable groups, with growing pressure on those under 18 to marry.
Alami said some families see early marriage as a way to cope with displacement, poverty and insecurity, while others believe it offers protection in overcrowded shelters or helps ease economic hardship following the loss of livelihoods.
She noted that about 10 percent of newly recorded pregnancies in Gaza in 2025 were among adolescent girls, marking an increase compared to pre-war levels.
Access to healthcare has declined sharply, with only 15 percent of health facilities currently able to provide emergency obstetric and newborn care, increasing risks for young mothers and their children.
Collapse of healthcare threatens young mothers
Alami said 63 percent of girls married at an early age have experienced physical or psychological violence, while divorce rates and severe distress are rising among child brides. In extreme cases, the consequences can be life-threatening.
She added that more than 100 suicide attempts among survivors of violence have been documented, stressing that child marriage constitutes a form of gender-based violence.
West Bank: displacement and growing psychological pressure
In the West Bank, she said ongoing military operations and settler attacks have displaced some families, disrupted daily life and forced school closures, increasing psychological pressure on children and young people.
Alami called for integrated responses linking mental health support with food, health and education services, noting that conditions in Gaza and the West Bank continue to hinder efforts to address mental health needs and combat gender-based violence.
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