The United Nations Relief and Works Agency has warned of the devastating impact Israel’s assault on Gaza is having on children, compounded by an extreme heatwave and collapsing basic services. According to Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini, more than 40,000 children have been killed or injured in Israeli attacks, while at least 17,000 are now without caregivers or separated from their families.

UNRWA reports that one million children are suffering from acute psychological trauma, unable to return to school or live normal lives. The agency added that temperatures surpassing 40°C are worsening conditions, with scarce water supplies and almost no fuel or electricity leaving families unable to cope with the heat. “The extreme heat is making an already tragic situation even worse,” UNRWA said.

With over 2.2 million Palestinians in desperate need of humanitarian assistance, the agency stressed the urgent need for a ceasefire to allow aid deliveries. For Gaza’s children, survival now hangs in the balance, threatened not only by bombs and hunger but also by thirst and unbearable heat.