INTERVIEW – As aid enters war-weary Gaza, challenges loom for children's recovery: UNICEF

INTERVIEW – As aid enters war-weary Gaza, challenges loom for children's recovery: UNICEF

'This humanitarian operation is probably one of the most complex in recent history,' says Rosalia Bollen, pointing to logistical obstacles, safety hazards- 'Children are in need of everything,' from food and water to clothes, blankets and medicine, says UNICEF communication specialist in Gaza- 'Every child in Gaza today is deeply scarred mentally by the war they've suffered,' Bollen tells, highlighting psychological scars inflicted by Israeli onslaught

By Beyza Binnur Donmez

GENEVA (AA) — As the relentless bombardment of Gaza temporarily subsides, a long-awaited ceasefire brings a tentative glimmer of hope to a traumatized population.

Essential supplies are now crossing the border in significant volumes, yet for Gaza’s children and their families, the road to recovery extends far beyond basic survival needs, according to UNICEF.

Rosalia Bollen, a UNICEF communication specialist in Gaza, described the dire conditions endured by families in an interview with Anadolu. She called the ceasefire "long overdue" not only because of the "unrelenting attacks that families have suffered but also because of the utter deprivation and the needs of families here in Gaza are absolutely enormous."

"Children are in need of everything, from nutrition to warm winter clothes, warm shelter blankets, medicines. There's hardly any access to clean water," Bollen explained. "It's important that we are able to bring in hygiene supplies, but also spare parts and sort of technical equipment to repair the water infrastructure here, which will be a very, very big undertaking."

With Gaza’s infrastructure in ruins after 15 months of genocidal war, the delivery of aid has become a daunting task. Roads are riddled with craters, rubble stretches endlessly, tents are ubiquitous, and unexploded ordnance poses constant threats, according to Bollen.

Since the ceasefire took effect on Jan. 19, over 1,500 trucks carrying humanitarian and commercial goods have entered Gaza. UNICEF alone has delivered nearly 110 trucks of life-saving supplies, including therapeutic food for malnourished children, hygiene kits, and blankets.

“I was passing by these dozens and dozens of trucks with goods. I had goosebumps because the needs are just so high," Bollen said. "Finally, these aid supplies are coming in at scale, which is exactly what is needed here in Gaza."


- Mental support as important as material aid

But material aid alone is not enough to mend the deep psychological scars left by the conflict, especially for Gaza’s youngest.

Over the past 15 months, children have endured "traumatic events, things that no child should ever witness," trapped in a "permanent state of stress and anxiety," Bollen said.

"Every child in Gaza today is deeply scarred mentally by the war they've suffered," she explained, noting many have lost friends, family, and the basic sense of safety that every child needs.

To address this, the humanitarian community has been working to provide psychological support alongside material aid, even before the ceasefire. UNICEF has partnered with local organizations to offer mental health counseling, including specialized support for children with disabilities.

She noted that the humanitarian community is working to provide psychological support alongside material aid even before the ceasefire. UNICEF has partnered with local organizations to offer mental health counseling, including for children with disabilities, she said.

Emphasizing that mental health support is just as critical as food and shelter, Bollen said UNICEF typically provides material supplies to centers with existing expertise, supplementing them with resources needed during counseling sessions.


- Education: Another pillar of recovery

Education has been another significant casualty of the prolonged violence. Schools in Gaza have been closed for over a year and a half, effectively "robbing children" not only of learning opportunities but also of vital spaces for social interaction and play.

"That's very concerning, not just because of the education they've lost, but also because schools are places of socialization. They're places where children can be children again, they can play, they can connect with other kids. It's important for their social development," says Bollen.

She underlined the urgency of providing children in Gaza with learning opportunities and spaces where they can once again be kids.

"They've been robbed of their childhoods. They've been robbed of their right to be a child," Bollen said. "They need to be able to return to some sort of daily routine, some sort of sense of normalcy."


- Unexploded ordnance hinders aid delivery

Despite the progress made since the ceasefire, significant obstacles remain. Many families are still displaced, living in makeshift tents in the south, while others are beginning to return to the remnants of their homes.

Bollen highlighted the challenges of delivering aid to northern Gaza, an area largely cut off for months that has yet to see significant aid deliveries due to lingering safety concerns and unexploded ordnance.

UNICEF hopes next week to get humanitarian supplies to the north, where the specialist expects significant population movement from southern Gaza, which would require changes to humanitarian operations.

Most aid efforts are currently concentrated in the southern and central parts of the enclave, she said, with limited operations in the north.

These northern areas, Bollen explained, are still littered with unexploded ordnance and other remnants of war, such as bombs and mines, which pose serious risks to civilians and aid workers. Clearing these hazards will be a critical step before humanitarian teams can safely operate in the region.

Bollen also emphasized the importance of rebuilding Gaza’s markets along with its infrastructure to enable families to regain independence. “It’s not viable for Palestinians in Gaza to remain dependent on aid," she said, underlining the need for "sustainable" solutions to help them rebuild their lives.


- 'Most complex' humanitarian operation

Bollen described the ongoing humanitarian operation in Gaza as "probably one of the most complex in recent history."

The distribution process itself is time-consuming and fraught with logistical challenges. Aid trucks are not allowed to enter Gaza directly — a restriction that predates the war.

Instead, supplies from donor countries are brought to border crossings, where they are scanned and unloaded. Palestinian trucks then transport the goods into Gaza for distribution.

This multi-step process, combined with the destruction of roads and the presence of displaced families living in tents along key routes, causes significant delays, she said.

Despite the challenges, Bollen highlighted the importance of delivering sustained humanitarian support and commitment to reconstruction to the people of Gaza.

"The prospect of a lost generation is indeed real if we are not able to sustain the entry of aid, and if we are not able to move towards the reconstruction of Gaza, towards the restoration of some sense of normalcy for these children."

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