Gaza children face severe mental health and education crises

Three years of military offensive, mass displacement, and destruction in Gaza have caused devastating impacts on the mental health and education of children. According to Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), children are experiencing overwhelming levels of pain, anxiety, sleep disorders, and psychological distress due to the loss of homes, schools, and friends.

MSF coordinator Franz Luef noted that the crisis is exacerbated by the systematic dismantling of conditions necessary for Palestinian survival. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that the number of people in Gaza requiring urgent psychosocial and mental health support has more than doubled, rising from 485,000 to over one million.

In addition to psychological trauma, the ongoing conflict and displacement have severely disrupted the education system, depriving children of essential school years.