UPDATE: The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has reached alarming levels, as new reports confirm that over 39,000 children have been orphaned due to the ongoing conflict. With families devastated and livelihoods destroyed, an increasing number of these children are resorting to begging to survive.
As the war continues to wreak havoc, more than 80 percent of the workforce in Gaza has lost their sources of income. Desperation drives children into the streets, where many must beg for basic necessities. Estimates indicate that hundreds of children are now engaged in street begging, a grim reflection of the economic collapse and the loss of parental support.
In the Al-Maghazi refugee camp, I met 11-year-old Ahmed, who lost his home in northern Gaza after it was bombed. His father was killed in July while attempting to collect humanitarian aid, leaving Ahmed as the sole provider for his family. As rain fell and his bare feet stood on the cold pavement, he shared his heartbreaking reality: “I need three shekels to buy a loaf of bread.”
Children like Ahmed and 8-year-old Noor, who lost her parents in an Israeli airstrike, are now forced to take on responsibilities far beyond their years. Noor lives with her uncle, who struggles to support a family of seven. Despite his own hardships, he emphasized, “Any money she earns from begging or selling small items is saved to help the family. Sometimes she sells water bottles… This is the only way we can survive.”
The plight of these children underscores a catastrophic loss of childhood. “Many of these children don’t know what it means to play or study. Their lives are focused solely on survival,” said local resident Samia, who witnesses the daily struggles of these young beggars.
Before the war, Gaza boasted a literacy rate of 97 percent and nearly 625,000 students in school. Education has now been severely disrupted, with many schools damaged or used as shelters, depriving thousands of children of their right to learning.
The impact of this education loss extends beyond immediate schooling; it poses long-term threats to their future, denying them the chance to escape the cycle of poverty. The international community has been alerted to the crisis yet has failed to take decisive action to protect the rights of these children, as outlined in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Immediate action is essential to mitigate the risks faced by Gaza’s children. The ongoing inaction only exacerbates their suffering, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation and trauma.
As the situation escalates, global attention and intervention are crucial. The world cannot afford to remain silent while a generation of children is robbed of their childhood and basic rights. The time for urgent action is now.
