“We have more than a million children in Gaza who need mental health services and psychosocial support,” he said. UN News.
The magnitude of the trauma is staggering.
96% of children in Gaza feel that death is imminent
According to UNFPA data cited by Ms. Alami, 96 percent of children in Gaza feel that death is imminent. “This reflects the depth of fear and trauma they experience daily,” he stressed.
Among adolescents and young people, often overlooked in humanitarian crises, the psychological toll is equally severe. About 61 percent suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), 38 percent from depression and 41 percent from anxiety. “It is alarming that one in five adults contemplates suicide almost daily,” he added.
“This is not simply psychological distress,” Ms. Alami emphasized. “It’s a widespread mental health emergency.”
Girls at highest risk
Within this crisis, girls are among the most vulnerable. In Gaza, child marriage, previously in decline, has made a marked resurgence. Rates had fallen from 25.5 percent in 2009 to 11 percent in 2022, but are now rising again as families struggle to survive.
A recent UNFPA study found that 71 percent of respondents in Gaza reported increased pressure to marry girls under 18. In just a short monitoring period, more than 400 marriage licenses were issued to girls ages 14 to 16 in emergency courts, but the numbers are likely underreported.
“Some families see marriage as a survival strategy amid displacement, poverty and insecurity,” Ms. Alami explained. Others believe it offers protection in overcrowded shelters or helps alleviate economic hardship after livelihoods collapse.
Child marriage exposes girls to violence
The consequences are serious. In 2025, approximately 10 percent of new pregnancies recorded in Gaza were to teenage girls, a significant increase compared to pre-war levels.
At the same time, access to healthcare has been drastically reduced. Currently, only 15 percent of Gaza’s health centers can provide emergency obstetric and neonatal services, increasing the risk of complications for young mothers and their babies.
Child marriage also exposes girls to violence.
“Some evidence suggests that 63 percent of girls married at a young age have experienced physical, psychological or sexual violence,” Ms. Alami said. Reports indicate increasing divorce rates and widespread serious psychological distress among married minors.
In the most extreme cases, the consequences are life-threatening. “More than 100 suicides or suicide attempts have been documented among survivors of violence,” he noted, stressing that child marriage is a form of gender-based violence.
Children who do not eat enough attend a nutrition clinic in Deir al Balah, Gaza.
Persistent sense of insecurity in the West Bank
While Gaza remains the epicenter of the crisis, conditions in the West Bank are also deteriorating. Escalating violence, military operations and settler attacks have led to displacement, especially in refugee camps, while movement restrictions and the closure of checkpoints have disrupted daily life and forced many schools to close.
Children and young people live under constant stress.
“They face fear of raids, movement restrictions and uncertainty about livelihoods and access to services,” Alami said. “This creates chronic anxiety and a persistent feeling of insecurity.”
These pressures can have long-term consequences and shape behavior and mental health into adulthood. Some young people are even considering leaving Palestine altogether.
To provide a safe environment where girls can seek immediate and long-term help from gender-based violence, UNFPA supports safe spaces, youth centers and tents for girls across Gaza.
Safe spaces offer lifelines
Amid these challenges, UNFPA has expanded support services. Over the past three years, the agency has reopened and supported more than 35 safe spaces for women and girls, providing case management and multi-sector responses to gender-based violence.
More than 120,000 dignity and hygiene kits have been distributed and more than 15 multipurpose youth centers are operating throughout Palestine, 11 of them dedicated to girls.
“These spaces provide psychosocial support, education and life skills, while promoting community participation and a sense of belonging,” Ms Alami said. Young people are not only beneficiaries, he added, but “active partners” in the design and implementation of initiatives.
A volunteer from the Social Development Forum leads a Girls’ Tent initiative session.
Services include group sessions, psychological first aid, individual counseling and a digital helpline known as Youth Windowoffering free remote support to marginalized youth.
Still, the challenges remain immense. Displacement, limited resources and harsh conditions, particularly in Gaza, where some safe spaces operate in tents exposed to extreme weather conditions, continue to hamper operations.
“Many families prioritize survival over mental health,” said Ms Alami, highlighting the need for integrated responses that link psychosocial support with food, health and education services.