Women in the Gaza Strip struggle to protect their children

In the Gaza Strip, where many internally displaced children are living in tents or shelters, Seba, a 37-year-old mother of two girls, Israa (3 -year- old), and Hanan (2- year-old), embodies the resilience of countless Palestinian mothers. Her story illustrates the extraordinary challenges faced by families who were forced to leave their homes due to the ongoing escalation of hostilities.

"With the start of this escalation, I was forced to leave my home due to the bombings, destruction, and the scarcity of water and food supplies in the area where I used to live," Seba explains, her voice reflecting the pain of losing her cherished home.

Providing food, clean water, and a safe place to sleep has become an uphill battle for families in the Gaza Strip. Inside their modest shelter, Israa, a 3-year-old girl, describes the terrifying moments they endure each day. "The very loud sounds of bombing scare me," she says, her innocent eyes filled with fear. "I'm afraid it will burn me."

The journey to their home was no less arduous. Seba recalls, "The displacement was difficult and physically tiring. We walked for long hours. It was also scary. I was very worried about my daughters. The scenes had a heavy impact on me and my little girls."

After seeking refuge in Khan Younis city, Seba found herself facing overcrowded and unsanitary conditions in the shelters. Her daughters suffered from recurring diarrhea and fever due to the dire living conditions.

The situation is particularly dramatic, with approximately 1.9 million people internally displaced in the Gaza Strip, continuing hostilities, and limited humanitarian resources. Children are at significant risk, with communicable diseases such as meningitis, skin rashes, chickenpox, and respiratory infections plaguing them, particularly those under five years old.

With her own hands, Seba built her tent using wood and plastic covers. It provides minimal protection from the cold, but it's an improvement over the overcrowded shelters. However, more than one million people, including children, are left homeless, exposed to the rainy weather and the chilling cold of winter.

Israa yearns for her former life. "I want my toys and my bed, not this tent," she confides. She misses the roses in their home, where her mornings were filled with play and helping her mother tend to the plants.

Like every resident of the Gaza Strip, Seba longs for a return to her normal life, where she can provide for her children's basic needs without constant fear and uncertainty. She speaks of her worries for Israa and Hanan during the nightly bombings, as they cling to her for safety.

UNICEF remains committed to supporting women and children in need. With the support of CERF, the Governments of Norway, Germany, and Spain, UNICEF and its partners provide crucial nutritional assistance for both children and mothers and delivers essential nutrition supplies to the Gaza Strip. UNICEF's efforts include providing Ready-to-Use Infant Formula (RUIF) to address the need of 2,260 non-breastfed infants aged 0-5 months, therapeutic milk for malnourished children, and psychosocial support services for children and caregivers.

More than 45,000 boys and girls and more than 10,000 caregivers have received psychosocial support, including children with disabilities, UNICEF urgently calls for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire as it is the only way to put an end to grave violations against children. Additionally, the establishment of humanitarian corridors is imperative to facilitate the prompt and crucial delivery of life-saving aid to those in desperate need.