UNICEF: Ceasefire delay ‘heartbreaking’ for Gaza children

The delay in implementing the ceasefire in Gaza has left children in the region devastated, says Rosalia Bollen of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

Speaking from Gaza’s al-Mawasi area, Bollen described the emotional toll on children as they await the promised truce.

“I saw children waving, cheering, and dancing, but at the same time, I could hear continued shooting and heavy weapons. The ceasefire isn’t there yet, and that’s absolutely heartbreaking for these children,” Bollen told Al Jazeera.

Over recent days, children have shared their dreams for when the ceasefire begins. “They want to go back home, see what’s left, sleep in their own beds, and find the toys they had to abandon when the war started,” she said.

Despite the anticipation, logistical challenges persist. Bollen noted that 1,300 truckloads of aid, including food, water, warm shelter, and hygiene supplies, are ready for delivery once conditions allow. However, destroyed infrastructure and storage facilities hinder immediate distribution.

Beyond physical needs, Bollen noted the deeper scars left by the conflict. “Some of the aid that children in Gaza need is not aid we can bring on trucks. They’ve witnessed things no child should ever have to see. They are in dire need of psychosocial support and a return to normalcy,” she said.