For two years, children in Gaza have experienced life-threatening violence, famine and exploitation. But some wounds from this humanitarian crisis remain invisible—the psychological scars left by trauma that threatens their health and development for years to come.
The psychological impact on Gaza’s children
Children suffer the most in crises, and Gaza is no exception.
More than 60,000 lives have been lost, leaving almost 20,000 children without parental care. In the devastating wake of grief, children are alone, vulnerable and—as famine sweeps the region—at risk of starvation.
“These children have lost everything—homes, families, a sense of safety,” says Reem Alreqeb, Gaza Program Director for SOS Children’s Villages in Palestine.
These traumatic events trigger an inordinate release of stress hormones in children’s developing brains, resulting in toxic stress. Unlike normal stress that can help children develop resilience, toxic stress occurs when a child experiences prolonged adversity—violence, loss of caregivers and chronic fear.
Without the presence of a loving, trusted adult to help a child regulate this response, healthy brain and body development are severely disrupted.
But with comprehensive, innovative mental health services, children can receive the support they need to process their experiences, heal and build a brighter future after trauma.
Helping children heal with community-based programs
Providing mental health and psychosocial support is critical to helping children not just survive, but thrive.
SOS is helping Gaza’s affected children, young people and families heal with:
— Individual and group counseling sessions tailored to each child’s trauma and that build peer support networks.
— Recreational activities that provide a sense of normalcy and joy. These Positive Childhood Experiences (PCEs) help children heal from trauma and decrease the risk of mental health issues in adulthood.
— Mental health awareness activities that educate communities, reduce stigma and create a community-wide safety net of support.
— Psychological first aid for mental health crisis response.
These programs don’t just address immediate trauma—they build long-term resilience by helping children develop healthy coping mechanisms.
Finding hope in the darkness
Even in moments of darkness, hope can still be found.
As Zoya Thalgieh of SOS Children’s Villages Palestine observes: "When a child begins to open up to someone they trust, forming a new friendship, or expressing themselves through art or school, it reminds me that recovery is always possible.”
“I also find hope in the commitment of our staff and the kindness of the community,” Thalgieh continues. “Everyone works with such heart to give the children the care they deserve. Most of all, it’s the children themselves who inspire me."
These small moments reveal a larger victory: Even in the worst humanitarian crises, children can heal and build brighter futures with the trauma-informed support and care.
Two years of impact: Supporting children through crisis
Thanks to compassionate supporters like you, SOS has:
— Supported more than 53,000 individuals, including 31,192 children, with life-saving aid since the beginning of the war in Gaza.
— Delivered mental health and psychosocial support to more than 30,632 individuals, helping children and families cope with the trauma of war.
— Evacuated 68 children from the SOS Children's Village Rafah in Gaza, as well as 11 staff members and their families to a safer location in Bethlehem in March 2024.
— Conducted an additional emergency relocation of children and adults from the village in Rafah to protect them from heightened missile risks in May 2024. With the help of compassionate donors, we built shelters and provided vital emergency supplies and basic needs for the displaced children and families.
— Expanded emergency centers, created support groups and worked with trauma specialists to develop tailored programs for children.
— Reinforced SOS Villages to protect children and staff from potential escalation with generators, food, water and occupational and learning activities.
— Gave 65 children without parental care a safe, loving home in SOS Children’s Villages until they can be reunited with their families and reunited 45 children with their families of origin.
— Supported more than 16,632 individuals with cash assistance to cover their family’s basic needs.
— Provided 1,300 children with nonformal education and distributed 4,500 educational kits to minimize learning disruptions and help children retain access to schooling.
Each number represents real children—each with a name, story and potential for a brighter future.
But the mental health needs of Gaza’s children remain a critical concern.
Every child deserves the chance to heal, to feel safe and to build a future free from conflict and trauma.
Your donation to the Children in Crisis Fund provides vulnerable children—like those in Gaza—with the necessities they need, like a safe home, nutritious food, clean water, mental and physical health care and more.
Give today and join us in ensuring no child is alone, overlooked or left behind in the chaos.
Together, we can help children take back their futures and transform invisible wounds into strength, resilience and hope for tomorrow.
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