SOS Children’s Villages Provide Care for Orphaned Children in Gaza

The first group of children who have lost their parents or caregivers in the Gaza war have arrived at SOS Children’s Villages in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip. Up to 55 children will be cared for in the SOS Village under a partnership agreement with UNICEF. The children will join the more than 70 children living in the village.

“We are committed to doing our best to accommodate the unaccompanied and separated children, recognizing the responsibility this places on our organization,” said a SOS Children’s Villages Palestine spokesperson. “We will bring in two experienced retired SOS Mothers to provide care for the newly admitted children along with the necessary pedagogical staff.”

Five unaccompanied children recently arrived at the SOS Village. Some show signs of severe emotional trauma and are receiving psychological care. One of the children is a three-year-old girl brought to SOS Children’s Villages by UNICEF. She was found alone at one of the checkpoints in Gaza. “The first assessment of the child indicated that she suffers from severe psychological trauma resulting in what is known as ‘selective mutism’ in addition to anxiety and fear as a result of what she was exposed to or what her family was exposed to,” said a psychologist at SOS Children’s Villages in Rafah. The girl also received medical attention at a local hospital to treat some wounds.

“The SOS Mother and the children with whom she will be living were prepared for her arrival,” said the psychologist. “They welcomed her with gifts to help her feel comfortable in her new environment.” Despite her psychological state, the girl started interacting with her caregiver and the other children in the household within days. She began sharing toys with them and playing in the yard. “We noticed that she now feels safer and that she is more able to cope with the traumatic event that she went through,” the psychologist explained. “We continue to provide specialized psychological assistance to help her according to her specific individual needs.”

The number of children who have lost one or both parents is estimated at 24,000 to 25,000, according to a report by UN. More than 21,000 civilians have been killed in Gaza, of which 70% are women and children, according to a recent report by the World Health Organization.

After almost three months of war in Gaza, with food, water, medicine, and cooking gas in scarce supply, SOS Children’s Villages in Rafah has managed to provide meals and care for the children, as well as provide support to hundreds in the community. The World Health Organization reports that malnutrition rates have reached critical levels in Gaza with insufficient food and high levels of malnutrition.

“There are many challenges besides the food shortage in the community,” a SOS Children’s Villages staff member said. “There is a lack of medicine in pharmacies, and health centres are no longer functional. Large hospitals are now mainly receiving wounded people. We sometimes resort to a neighbour, a nurse, who helps us treat children when needed.”

Water is also scarce in general. “Potable water is not available for the majority in the community. Many depend on help from aid organizations,” the staff member said.

SOS Children’s Villages in Rafah supports people in many ways, including providing shelter to unaccompanied children, emergency cash support and mental health services for internally displaced families who are program participants.