Gaza, 25 June 2024 - Save the Children has issued a distressing report stating that up to 21,000 children are believed to be missing amidst the chaos of the ongoing war in Gaza. The children are facing various dangers, including being trapped beneath rubble, detained, buried in unmarked graves, or separated from their families.

According to Save the Children, the latest displacements caused by the offensive in Rafah have led to the separation of more children, placing an additional strain on families and communities caring for them. Due to the challenging conditions in Gaza, collecting and verifying information is nearly impossible. However, it is estimated that approximately 17,000 children are currently unaccompanied and separated, with around 4,000 children likely buried underneath the rubble.

Tragically, some children have also been forcibly disappeared, including those detained and transferred out of Gaza. The uncertainty surrounding their whereabouts has caused great anguish for their families. Reports of ill-treatment and torture during their disappearance have further exacerbated the distress.

The deteriorating security situation in Gaza is severely hindering the urgent action needed to protect these separated and unaccompanied children. Save the Children's Child Protection Specialist in Gaza expressed the challenges faced by the agency in providing support, stating, "Every day we find more unaccompanied children, and every day it becomes harder to support them." The lack of safe facilities and ongoing hostilities not only restrict access to communities but also constantly force families to relocate, making the task of reuniting children with their families even more difficult.

Neighbours and extended family members who have taken in lone children are struggling to meet their basic needs, including shelter, food, and water. This situation exposes the children to a higher risk of violence, abuse, exploitation, and neglect.

The recent Israeli attacks in Rafah have resulted in mass casualties. Reports highlight people being trapped inside burning plastic tents and bodies burned beyond recognition. Identifying bodies has become challenging as whole families have been wiped out, and entry restrictions prevent necessary equipment and experts from entering Gaza.

Since 7 October, more than 14,000 children have lost their lives in Gaza, each an irreplaceable loss. Of these, approximately half have not yet been fully identified due to their bodies being harmed beyond recognition. Alarmingly, some children have been discovered in mass graves, showing signs of torture, summary executions, and potential instances of being buried alive.

While the conflict has also taken a toll on Israeli children, with at least 33 casualties reported since October, it remains unclear if any children are still being held hostage in Gaza. Additionally, around 250 Palestinian children from the West Bank remain missing in the Israeli military detention system, with families unable to confirm their whereabouts or wellbeing due to increased visitation restrictions.

The UN has received numerous reports of mass detentions, ill-treatment, and enforced disappearances, including those involving children. Save the Children's Regional Director for the Middle East, Jeremy Stoner, emphasized the need to protect and reunite missing children with their families. Stoner called for independent investigations and emphasized the importance of holding accountable those responsible for the grave violations suffered by children.

Save the Children has been providing essential services and support to Palestinian children for over seven decades. Working with local partners, the organization offers individual child protection case management, cash assistance to caregivers, psychosocial support, and community engagement. Their efforts also extend to providing access to child-friendly spaces, nutrition, and health support.

In light of the situation in Gaza, urgent action is needed to find and protect the missing children who have survived and prevent further destruction of families. The call for a ceasefire is growing louder, as it would allow for necessary support and aid to be provided to those affected by this devastating conflict.