In Gaza, amidst near-total silence from the mainstream media, attacks have intensified, and the situation is worse than ever…
The right-wing faction led by Smotrich, Katz, and the settlers intends to seize Gaza and re-colonize it as soon as possible by expelling (or wiping out) the Palestinians.
The messages we receive daily from Gazans via the “Aid for Palestine” Committee tell us that the bombing and gunfire are constant.
We have never received so many reports of killings as we have in recent days.
From the small “observatory” of the 40 families supported by the Committee come images of children killed and children left orphaned—some entirely alone. Many are losing friends and neighbors. Some write that they feel alive only by chance; others do not answer their phones. Living conditions are unbearable, with temperatures reaching 42°C, a severe lack of water, and the presence of insects, rats, and disease.
Word is circulating in Gaza that the Israelis have announced in their media that they have identified 2,000 “targets” to strike. People are frightened, yet they are (still) trying to function.
Mosbah continues to distribute water amidst the bombing, while Yousef tends to the “Future in the Hands of the Little Ones” school; although classes have been suspended, summer activities are still taking place. They ask that their stories be told and their photos and messages shared—to break the silence and demand justice (three photos received are attached), and that their projects be supported.
During this period, the voices from the public squares have quieted, yet our consciences remain clear and alert, continuing to challenge us regarding what we can do.
Accepting Mosbah Al-Halabi’s proposal, the Scuola per la pace [School for Peace] has committed to supporting the Orphan Children’s Camp project in Northern Gaza, presented as follows:
The Gaza Strip is facing an unprecedented humanitarian crisis due to the ongoing genocide, which has caused widespread destruction of infrastructure and homes, as well as the mass displacement of families; these families are living in unsustainable conditions—in tents, exposed to either freezing cold or scorching heat, and facing appalling sanitary conditions. 56% of the violent deaths were children, women, and the elderly (data published in the journal *The Lancet*, February 2026). Children have been among the hardest hit: thousands have lost one or both parents.
Data reported by the Palestinian Ministry of Social Development in April 2026 indicate the presence of over 64,000 orphans in the Gaza Strip, with more than 55,000 having lost both parents or the family breadwinner. In Palestinian culture, in single-income households, it is almost invariably the father who provides the financial support.
Healthcare workers have coined the acronym WCNSF (“Wounded Child, No Surviving Family”) to describe children who have lost their entire families and are often injured in the very same bombings that claimed their relatives’ lives; amputations—ranging from a single limb to all four—are extremely common among these children.
There are also thousands of unaccompanied children who have been separated from their parents due to constant displacement. They are often registered at hospitals as “unknown” or “unaccompanied children” pending identification. Many of these minors were found injured and trapped beneath the rubble.
Orphans lacking a family support network are the most vulnerable to systemic hunger, a lack of care, and a lack of protection against various threats (including sexual abuse).
The Ministry itself highlights that orphans in Palestine—whether in the West Bank or the Gaza Strip—face additional hardships beyond the loss of one or both parents: the risk of poverty, school dropout, limited access to services, and severe psychological consequences stemming from their loss and repeated trauma.
The social fabric and institutions responsible for child protection have been largely destroyed, meaning that children often have to rely on extended family, neighbors, or strangers to survive. Orphaned children are frequently taken in by relatives—such as grandparents—who, however, struggle to secure enough food and drinking water themselves, placing a severe strain on already limited resources.
Many orphaned children are gathered in overcrowded reception centers that often suffer from a severe lack of food, drinking water, medical care, and adequate tents. Many orphans—especially boys—can be seen on the streets searching for food or trying to find, sell, or trade items to obtain basic necessities. At present, the humanitarian aid available in the Strip is extremely limited, as it is being blocked by Israel at the crossings.
The geographical distribution of orphans in the Gaza Strip is uneven, with some areas more affected than others.
Gaza Governorate (Gaza City): This area has the highest concentration of orphans, home to approximately 32.7% of all children who have lost their parents.
North Gaza: This area follows with a high percentage of orphans (approximately 22.5%), having been the scene of intense fighting before being evacuated.
Khan Younis: The southern governorate is home to approximately 18.3% of the orphans.
Central Gaza and Rafah: These areas show lower percentages compared to the north—though still critical—at 13.2% and 8.2%, respectively.
An analysis of the situation, highlighting the lack of a structured network capable of protecting orphaned children in Gaza, has revealed the following critical issues:
Systemic hunger – Orphans, lacking a family network to provide food, face severe food insecurity on a daily basis and are the most vulnerable to systemic hunger.
Strained community support systems – Despite the efforts of local and international organizations, the humanitarian response is severely limited, and thousands of children receive inadequate aid or no aid at all. Furthermore, the lack of safe spaces and the shortage of food, water, and medicines make it difficult to establish structured protection networks.
Strained family networks – In Palestinian culture, relatives are the primary source of support. Traditionally, the extended family would take in orphans; however, current extreme poverty and the loss of multiple members within the same household often make it impossible for surviving relatives to care for additional children.
Severe psychological trauma – Virtually all children in Gaza require mental health support. Many suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), selective mutism, and severe anxiety after witnessing the deaths of their parents. The impact on mental health is immense; estimates suggest that nearly every child in Gaza requires psychological assistance and psychosocial support. Symptoms of extreme stress are common, including aggressive behavior, anxiety, anguish, bedwetting, insomnia, a desire to die, withdrawal, autism-spectrum behaviors, and arrested developmental growth.
Lack of medical care – 80% of healthcare facilities are damaged. Many injured orphans, including those who have undergone amputations, lack access to rehabilitation or adequate treatment.
Absence of legal protections – The chaos of displacement often prevents the formal identification of children, making it difficult to place them in foster care or adoption programs.
INTERVENTION PROJECT
In light of the situation described so far—specifically the emergency context in Gaza and the urgent nature of the circumstances—the proposed project aims to support an existing protection center for orphans located in northern Gaza, which is facing a severe shortage of the resources necessary for its operation.
Analysis tools used – The situational analysis was conducted in collaboration with the local partner and, where necessary, supplemented with data from documents and websites of local and international organizations.
Primary sector of intervention – Direct beneficiaries and needs analysis: orphaned children in northern Gaza.
The camp for orphaned children in northern Gaza, which this project aims to support, houses approximately 217 orphans aged 0 to 18. In light of the challenges outlined above, the project aims to provide concrete support (food, water, tents, medicines, and educational and recreational materials).
AREAS OF INTERVENTION
– Shelter: most tents or dwellings require repairs; some are at risk of collapse, and electricity supply is intermittent.
– Food and water: daily access to nutritious meals and sufficient drinking water is not guaranteed.
– Psychosocial, psychological, and educational support: children are suffering from trauma caused by the loss of their parents and harsh living conditions, with no access to psychological support services or recreational activities.
– Education: the children are not enrolled in formal schools, and educational materials and programs are largely absent.
– Health: regular health check-ups are not conducted, and medical supplies are limited.
The project is planned for a six-month period, renewable.
Specific Objectives:
Provide regular, nutritious meals to orphaned children.
Ensure access to clean drinking water within the camp.
Offer psychosocial support activities to help children process trauma.
Provide basic medical care and treatment for sick children.
Set up a temporary educational tent to support learning and educational activities.
Project Activities
Nutritional Support – Provision of regular meals for children living in the camp.
Clean Water Supply – Provision of safe drinking water for daily use.
Psychosocial Support – Group sessions, recreational activities, and emotional support programs.
Healthcare Support – Regular check-ups by qualified medical personnel, provision of basic medicines and treatment for sick children, and—where possible—referral of severe cases to specialized facilities.
Educational Tent – Setting up a learning tent equipped with basic educational materials and organizing educational activities.
Expected Results
Improved nutritional status for 217 orphaned children.
Partial reduction of psychological stress through structured psychosocial activities.
Reliable access to clean drinking water in the camp.
Provision of health check-ups and essential medical support for sick children.
Access to basic education and learning opportunities through a temporary educational space.
Implementation and Monitoring
The project will be implemented in Northern Gaza by the humanitarian field team, with the support of Mosbah Al-Halabi—a volunteer for the “Un aiuto per la Palestina” (Aid for Palestine) Committee and a collaborator with the Al Amal Association in Gaza.
Activities will be regularly monitored and documented through reports, photos, and field updates to ensure transparency and accountability to the proposing committee and any other participating entities or project sponsors.
Budget, assessed in consultation with the Gazans involved in project implementation
EXPENDITURE CATEGORY ESTIMATED AMOUNT (EUROS)
Food and meals 9,000
Clean water supply 3,000
Psychosocial support activities 3,500
Medical care and medicines 3,500
Educational tent and materials 2,500
Operational and administrative costs 1,500
Total 23,000
The Committee and the Gaza-based team will continue to seek further partnerships and funding opportunities, both to launch the project and to sustain support for orphaned children in the camp while expanding essential services.
Conclusion
This project represents an urgent humanitarian response to support children who lost their families during the war in Gaza. Thanks to the generous support of the donor organization, the project will help restore dignity, hope, and stability to orphaned children living in extremely difficult circumstances.
Project Information
Project Name: Support for orphaned children in Northern Gaza
Donor: Un aiuto per la Palestina (Aid for Palestine)
Implementing Team: Mosbah Al-Halabi Humanitarian Team
Location: Northern Gaza / Camp for orphaned children (under 18)
Duration: 6 months
Number of beneficiaries: 217 orphaned children
Total budget: 23,000 euros
Donations:
Satispay – https://web.satispay.com/download/qrcode/S6Y-SVN–19FF359D-701C-4FB9-
A522-F50008F5E53E?locale=it
Bank transfer – IBAN IT76A0883301003000000013283; recipient: Un aiuto per la Palestina; payment reference: Campo orfani Gaza.
La Scuola per la pace Torino e Piemonte
