On Jan. 19, 2025, UNICEF trucks loaded with water, hygiene kits, and nutrition items enter the Gaza Strip in the State of Palestine via the Kerem Shalom crossing point.
Emergency Response

As Ceasefire Takes Effect, UNICEF Aid Flows Into Gaza

On the first day of the ceasefire, more than 630 humanitarian aid trucks entered Gaza, surpassing the minimum of 600 trucks per day specified in the agreement. Safe, unrestricted access to all parts of the Gaza Strip is essential to reach every child. 

The war has taken a terrible toll on Gaza's children

After more than 15 months of war, news of a ceasefire and the release of hostages brought cheers from displaced children and families living in makeshift tents in Gaza, cut off from reliable access to water, sanitation, hygiene, nutrition, education or health care.

From the first minutes after the ceasefire was implemented on Jan. 19, 2025, dozens of UNICEF trucks entered the Gaza Strip through the Kerem Shalom crossing point, loaded with water, hygiene kits, nutrition, warm winter clothes and other critical humanitarian aid for children. Hundreds more stood at the ready, filled with lifesaving supplies. 

Video: As children celebrate ceasefire news, UNICEF rushes critical aid 

A complex humanitarian operation to rebuild Gaza's future

UNICEF has more than 1,000 trucks in its pipeline at the moment, filled with more nutrition, water and sanitation (WASH), health, essential education and psychosocial supplies for children and families in urgent need.

The challenges are enormous: Families in Gaza have lost everything. Essential services have collapsed. UNICEF remains committed to doing whatever it takes for as long as it takes to deliver as much humanitarian aid as possible to children and help families rebuild their lives.

On Oct. 30, 2023, a child's stuffed toy on a couch is surrounded by debris on a street, with damaged buildings in the background, following the escalation of hostilities in the Gaza Strip.
On Oct. 30, 2023, a child's stuffed toy sits on a couch surrounded by debris following the escalation of hostilities in the Gaza Strip. More than 15 months later, families are beginning to return to what is left of their homes. The war destroyed Gaza's infrastructure and displaced almost the entire population. © UNICEF/UNI465055/Jadallah, Anadolu Images

UNICEF aid delivery prioritizes children's most urgent needs

In the first phase of the ceasefire, UNICEF is prioritizing urgent interventions benefitting children across several sectors. Some highlights include:

  • Provision of safe water to 1 million people including 400,000 children for host community, IDP shelters, temporary learning centers and medical points through water production, water trucking and system repair
  • Distribution of hygiene kits to 50,000 families most in need
  • Repair of sewer networks and pumping stations, along with solid waste management and temporary waste dumping site operation
  • Measles and polio vaccination catch-up for 320,000 children
  • Awareness-raising for children and caregivers on the dangers of unexploded ordnance 
  • Family tracing services to reunite the estimated 17,000 children who have become separated from parents and caregivers during the war
  • Enhanced neonatal care to improve health outcomes for newborns
  • Rehabilitation services for children with amputations
  • Screening of 320,000 children at risk of malnutrition and treatment of malnourished children identified during screening process
  • Scale-up of humanitarian cash transfer program to reach one-third of Gaza's population (750,000 people) — including at least 40,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women and 10,000 families with a disabled family member — to allow them to buy food, water and hygiene supplies when available in markets
On Dec. 28, 2024, a UNICEF staff member helps a child try on warm winter clothes, part of a winter kit distributed to children in Al Fajer Camp, Khan Younis, South Gaza.
On Dec. 28, 2024, a UNICEF staff member helps a child try on a warm hat, scarf and gloves, part of a winter clothing kit distributed to children in Al Fajer Camp, Khan Younis, South Gaza. © UNICEF/UNI711554/Nateel

Help UNICEF reach more children in need

A ceasefire agreement is a critical first step, but it must be upheld. It is crucial that the ceasefire removes the significant security and political obstacles to delivering aid across Gaza.

In the days, weeks and months to come, UNICEF and partners will continue to scale up the response. The parties to the conflict must ensure sustained, unimpeded access for humanitarian aid to reach every child, along with the safe release of all hostages.

Please donate today to help UNICEF scale support for children.

 

TOP PHOTO: On Jan. 19, 2025, UNICEF trucks loaded with water, hygiene kits and nutrition items enter the Gaza Strip via the Kerem Shalom crossing point. © UNICEF/UNI720579/Habeel. Video edited by Tong Su for UNICEF USA.

HOW TO HELP

There are many ways to make a difference

War, famine, poverty, natural disasters — threats to the world's children keep coming. But UNICEF won't stop working to keep children healthy and safe.

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories — more places than any other children's organization. UNICEF has the world's largest humanitarian warehouse and, when disaster strikes, can get supplies almost anywhere within 72 hours. Constantly innovating, always advocating for a better world for children, UNICEF works to ensure that every child can grow up healthy, educated, protected and respected.

Would you like to help give all children the opportunity to reach their full potential? There are many ways to get involved.

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