SOS Children's Villages International
SOS Children's Villages International
10/08/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/08/2026 09:00
Gaza: Kinship care gives children a sense of belonging in dire circumstances
PALESTINE - 8 October 2026
Gaza: Kinship care gives children a sense of belonging in dire circumstances
For many children in Gaza who have lost their parents, older siblings, grandparents, aunts and uncles have become the caregivers they rely on every day. According to UNICEF, more than 58,000 children have lost one or both parents since October 2023, with the vast majority now staying with relatives. These families are taking on new responsibilities in extreme conditions - facing displacement, loss and severe hardship themselves.
Most people in Gaza remain displaced, many in tents or makeshift shelters. Access to adequate water, sanitation, health care and other essential services remains severely constrained, while ongoing military operations continue to cause casualties and damage across the Strip.
For children who have lost parental care, staying with relatives means maintaining family bonds crucial for their sense of belonging and emotional state.
SOS Children's Villages in Palestine supports families providing kinship care through psychosocial support and counselling, regular follow-up and assistance with essential needs such as food, hygiene items, educational materials and household supplies.
By June 2026, 156 families caring for 336 children had taken part. Among them are young people such as Malik and Masa, whose lives changed dramatically during the war.
Young people in Gaza navigating loss and change
At 17, Malik was not preparing for his high-school exams like many of his friends. After losing his father while his mother was outside Gaza receiving medical treatment, he became responsible for his two younger brothers, Amr, 15, and Moataz, 11.
After the family was displaced to Al-Mawasi in Khan Younis, Malik worked in agriculture to help meet their basic needs while continuing his education. Through the Kinship Care programme, the family received cash assistance that enabled him to attend remedial classes. They also took part in family counselling, helping them cope with loss and displacement and support one another through the changes they were facing.
Malik went on to pass his Tawjihi high-school examination with a score of 80% - an achievement made all the more remarkable by the circumstances around him.
Masa, a secondary-school student, lost both of her parents during the war and now lives with her older sister. The family received psychosocial and financial support, helping Masa attend tutoring classes and get the educational supplies she needed to prepare for her Tawjihi examination. Masa remains focused on her education and looks towards her future.
How we work in humanitarian crises
Supporting the family around the child
The Kinship Care programme supports the whole family. Psychosocial support and counselling help caregivers respond to children's emotional needs and navigate change.
A grandfather caring for his grandchildren said: "During the sessions, we learned to understand children better, which has had a very positive impact on our whole family."
Regular visits help SOS Children's Villages Palestine identify needs related to children's health, education and protection, with referrals to specialized services where needed. Families receive financial and material assistance for daily needs.
Some unaccompanied and separated children have also been reunited with relatives following family tracing and are now supported through kinship care.
Space to learn, play and connect
The war has deprived children in Gaza of the ordinary experiences of childhood, leaving them without safe spaces to play and learn.
SOS Children's Villages aims to create the conditions for them to be children again. This summer, more than 2000 displaced children participated in recreational activities organized across seven temporary learning spaces in Khan Younis and Deir al-Balah. Through games, sports and arts, children could express their emotions and connect with each other.
Nine-year-old Lina said: "I loved taking part in the activity near the sea. It was my favorite place and the best day I've had this year."
Being with people they know and trust is crucial for children and young people experiencing trauma, loss, fear and uncertainty about the future. Supporting family relationships is an important part of protecting children's rights amid the dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
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SOS Children's Villages International published this content on October 08, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on October 08, 2026 at 15:00 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]