Putting the Pieces Back Together: Centring Children and Their Protection in the Humanitarian Response in Gaza

With the ceasefire in Gaza and the scale-up of humanitarian assistance, the Alliance for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action calls for children’s protection to be placed at the centre of the response.

This statement outlines urgent priorities to meet the needs of Gaza’s 1.1 million children — half of the population — who have endured loss, displacement, and trauma. It calls for child protection to be recognised and funded as a life-saving intervention, on par with other essential sectors.

Key priorities include:

• Strengthening child protection systems and workforce capacity
• Expanding mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS)
• Supporting parents and caregivers
• Ensuring child protection is a central and critical element of the response and also integrated and funded across all sectors

Grounded in humanitarian principles and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, this statement underscores the urgent need for a coordinated, adequately resourced child protection response to help children in Gaza rebuild their safety, dignity, and futures.