DaysofPal- The United Nations says the Gaza Strip has yet to recover from the impact of more than two years of war that began in October 2023. Ongoing blockade conditions, mass displacement, and the destruction of healthcare systems and infrastructure continue to worsen the humanitarian situation.
More than a million children in Gaza require social and psychological support following extended exposure to violence and loss, according to a United Nations report. Nearly 96 percent of them feel that death is imminent, according to Seema Alami, a youth and adolescent program official at the United Nations Population Fund.
Alami described the situation not simply as psychological distress but as a large-scale mental health emergency. She said that 61 percent of adolescents and young people suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, 38 percent from depression, and 41 percent from anxiety. She also noted that one in five adults reports having nearly daily thoughts of suicide.
The United Nations also warned of increasing risks facing girls in Gaza, including a resurgence of child marriage and rising rates of early pregnancy linked to worsening economic and social conditions and the collapse of basic services.
A study by the United Nations Population Fund found that 71 percent of respondents reported growing pressure to marry off girls under the age of 18. More than 400 marriage permits were issued for girls aged between 14 and 16 within a short monitoring period, with actual figures likely higher.
Alami said some families resort to early marriage as a survival strategy in the face of displacement and poverty, or as a means of perceived protection in overcrowded shelters, or to reduce economic burdens.
Around 10 percent of newly recorded pregnancies in 2025 involved teenage girls, a higher rate than before the war. Only 15 percent of healthcare facilities are currently able to provide emergency obstetric and newborn care, increasing risks for young mothers and their children.
The report also warned that child marriage exposes girls to violence. About 63 percent of girls who married at an early age reported experiencing physical, psychological, or sexual abuse. Rising divorce rates and severe psychological stress have also been recorded, with some cases posing life-threatening consequences.
Alami confirmed that more than 100 cases of suicide or attempted suicide have been documented among survivors of violence, emphasizing that child marriage constitutes a form of gender-based violence.
Conditions in the West Bank
The report highlighted deteriorating conditions in the West Bank as well, driven by escalating military operations and settler attacks that have led to displacement in some areas, particularly refugee camps. Movement restrictions, checkpoints, and school closures have disrupted daily life.
Alami said children and young people in the West Bank live under constant pressure, facing fears of raids and uncertainty over livelihoods and access to services. This environment has led to chronic anxiety and a persistent sense of insecurity, raising concerns about long-term effects on mental health and behavior.
She added that some young people are considering leaving Palestine, while many families in both Gaza and the West Bank are prioritizing survival over mental well-being.
The UN official stressed the need for integrated responses that link psychological support with food, healthcare, and education services. She said displacement, limited resources, and harsh living conditions, particularly in Gaza, continue to hinder efforts to address mental health needs and respond to gender-based violence.
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