The humanitarian situation in Gaza has reached a new level of catastrophe, with children bearing the brunt of a crisis that shows no signs of ending. In Khan Younis and northern Gaza, thousands of displaced families are living in overcrowded camps with little or no access to essential services. Food, clean water, and fuel are critically scarce. Amid the chaos, SOS Children's Villages continues to provide care to children, even as conditions grow increasingly dire.
Markets across Gaza are nearly empty. What little food remains is priced far beyond the reach of most families. "We are seeing levels of food insecurity that are truly alarming," says Reem Alreqeb, Gaza Programme Director for SOS Children's Villages in Palestine. "Our own food reserves have been depleted, and with major humanitarian providers like the WFP (World Food Program) and WCK (World Central Kitchen) unable to operate, families are left hungry and hopeless."
Water scarcity is compounding the crisis. Drinking water is delivered to camps just once a week, while domestic water is pumped from a single well using dwindling fuel supplies. Hygiene and sanitation conditions in the camps are deteriorating fast, raising the risk of disease outbreaks. Fuel, already in short supply, is now also used for cooking, lighting, and transporting essential staff and supplies.
While large areas of Khan Younis are under evacuation orders by the Israel Defense Forces, the SOS Children's Villages tent encampment in the Al Mawasi area has not been directly impacted by the latest directives. The children and staff have been living in Al Mawasi for several months after they were forced to flee the SOS Children's Village in Rafah, which they later found destroyed.
"We moved to Al Mawasi because it was one of the only remaining areas considered relatively safe," says Reem. "Now, thousands more people are arriving here under pressure, and conditions are worsening by the day."
As of mid-May, only a trickle of humanitarian aid has entered Gaza -- five trucks authorized by Israel after nearly three months of blockade, with four more expected. While international donors, including the European Union, have pledged additional aid, distribution mechanisms remain limited and contentious. "The needs are overwhelming, and the aid arriving is simply not enough," Reem emphasizes.
SOS Children's Villages currently cares for 46 children, including 41 unaccompanied and separated children. The organization's work goes far beyond meeting basic needs -- it includes psychosocial support, trauma care, family tracing, and child-friendly services. "These children have lost everything -- homes, families, a sense of safety," says Reem. "We are doing everything in our power to protect them and help them heal."
Staff in Gaza are continuing their work under incredibly difficult circumstances. Many have been displaced, cut off from electricity and internet, and are experiencing trauma themselves. Despite these challenges, their dedication has not wavered. "Our team is the backbone of this operation," Reem notes. "They are working under extreme pressure to ensure every child continues to receive care, even as their own lives are upended."