Save the children warned that the ongoing bombing of the Gaza Strip by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is not only causing an unprecedented level of destruction in the territory, where they are already more than 4 thousand children diedbut this is pushing the mental health of minors to the limit, who, as the NGO reminds, are the first to realize this. “there is no safe place” where one can hide.

Even before this conflict, 80 percent of children lived in fear, anxiety, grief or grief, as revealed in a Save the Children report published mid-last year, reflecting the mental devastation of a shocked population due to repeated cycles of violence. violence and lack of supplies and basic goods.

Youssef works for an NGO, but he is also the father of three children under the age of ten. “There is a lot of loss and a lot of pain. We are afraid of what will happen in the next few hours,” he says, assessing a context in which “death is everywhere.”

In total, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health, more than 10 thousand people died.

Youssef lamented a month after the war began.

My children look into my eyes every day, looking for answers. I do not have them. This is very difficult, especially for children.

Director of Save the Children in the Palestinian Territories Jason Lee, explained that “during war, people usually seek refuge in safe places,” but now there is nothing that can be considered safe and there is no way to escape from the sector. Border crossings with Israel remain closed, and the Rafah crossing with Egypt is open only for the evacuation of foreigners or the wounded.

“With a sense of security, constant family presence, routine and proper treatment, children can recover,” but now in the Gaza Strip many children have “lost everything,” Lee said.

We do not have the words to issue strong enough warnings or describe the extent of children’s suffering.