UNICEF spokesperson Kazem Abu Khalaf revealed on Saturday the plight of children who lost their parents in Gaza. He explained that such children are referred to as “unaccompanied children” due to the horrors of the conflict, where one parent may be in the south and the child remains with the other parent in the north, or both parents may have been killed in the war.

Abu Khalaf noted that the number of unaccompanied children in Gaza is an estimate, as precise figures are difficult to obtain. Based on their experience in conflict zones, approximately 1% of displaced children are unaccompanied, with either one or both parents possibly alive or deceased.

He confirmed that with 1.9 million displaced individuals in Gaza, the estimated number of unaccompanied children could be around 19,000, with some being orphans or separated from their parents by the war. He emphasized that these figures are approximate and represent 1% of the total displaced population.

In cases where reunification is not possible or a child becomes orphaned, extended family members, such as cousins, uncles, or grandparents, often step in to care for the children until conditions improve, and support is provided to them.