After two years of relentless bombardment, Gaza’s Ministry of Social Development has revealed a staggering toll on the enclave’s children: 57,000 orphans now live without one or both parents, their lives upended by a war that has torn through homes and families alike. Many of these children stand entirely alone, having lost every member of their household beneath the rubble of repeated strikes.

According to the ministry, the number of orphans before the war stood at around 17,000. That figure has now more than tripled, underscoring the depth of Gaza’s humanitarian tragedy. Officials describe the need as far beyond emergency aid, it is now about rebuilding lives, restoring trust, and offering long-term protection to a generation raised in grief. A new strategy, known as “Comprehensive Care,” aims to meet not just material needs but also the emotional and psychological scars of children who have seen their world vanish overnight.

The plan includes building at least five new care centres and creating a digital database to track the wellbeing of every registered orphan. Coordination efforts with humanitarian organisations are being expanded to unify aid efforts and avoid duplication. Despite political fragmentation and years of blockade, social workers continue their struggle to create a system that ensures no child is forgotten, a fragile attempt to preserve dignity amid the ruins of a place where childhood itself has become a casualty of war.