Thu Nov 20 08:58:03 UTC 2025: Gaza’s Children Bear Scars of War: Over 3,350 Suffer Major Burns Amidst Devastation
Gaza City – The ongoing conflict in Gaza has left a devastating toll on its civilian population, particularly its children. Among the most harrowing injuries are major burns, with over 3,350 people, including a disproportionate number of children, suffering from these life-altering wounds.
Nine-year-old Elham Abu Hajjaj is one such victim. She was critically injured during an Israeli bombing of her home in Gaza City’s al-Saffaweh area. The attack tragically killed both of her parents and left her with third-degree burns across her body. She recounts waking up in a hospital, her body trembling and covered in burns, only to learn of her parents’ death.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly 42,000 Gazans, roughly 2% of the population, have sustained life-changing injuries since October 2023. A quarter of those injuries are children. The organisation reports that children constitute approximately 70% of burn surgery patients in Gaza, many of whom are under the age of five and injured by bomb blasts.
The psychological scars run deep. Elham, now living with her grandparents after losing her parents, finds solace in drawing. She draws a rebuilt version of her destroyed home, complete with a swing and a tree her father had planted, as a way to cope with the pain and loss.
The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics estimates that over 39,000 children in Gaza have lost one or both parents since April, with approximately 17,000 becoming orphaned since the escalation of the conflict in October 2023. The war’s impact on the mental health of the children in Gaza are a growing concern and need for immediate and long-term support.
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