Throughout the world, International Medical Corps’ Child Protection (CP) programming focuses on the safety and well-being of children by providing group activities and individual support services for them and their parents or caregivers. Our work in the sector strengthens the protective environment for children and supports their resilience and recovery during times of stress.
Since conflict erupted in Gaza in October, our CP work there has become even more important. During times of conflict, the risk of child abuse rises, and unaccompanied minors and orphans are at even greater risk of violence and malnutrition.
International Medical Corps’ CP team offers vital services, providing psychological first aid, individual counseling and case management services, which include an assessment of children’s protection needs and linkages to appropriate services both inside and outside of International Medical Corps. We provide services to all children—including unaccompanied and separated children, who are some of the most vulnerable in Gaza.
The team also runs a child-friendly space at our main field hospital in Deir al Balah, serving 60 to 80 children each day, including outpatients and children in the hospital’s inpatient wards. The space offers freeform and structured activities—including games, songs, drawing, storytelling, movies, theater performances, visual arts, puppet shows, clown performances and competitions—that let children be children, even in the midst of conflict. It also provides a safe space where they can express their feelings and better cope with stress.
“The activities help improve children’s well-being by giving them a chance to feel joy and happiness through play and other activities,” says Gaza Child Protection Specialist Abeer Jomaa.
The space also helps parents and caregivers communicate better with their children. Our awareness sessions help parents understand and deal with their children’s psychological response to emergencies; mitigate child protection threats, including displacement and exploitation; prevent family separation; and learn the importance of play, which is especially important for children under 5 years old.
Abeer says that the happiness and joy children and their caregivers feel in the child-friendly space is remarkable. For children who have been wounded in the conflict, it’s even more touching.
“Injured children, especially those with amputations, say they don’t feel their injuries or pain during the activities,” Abeer says. “They feel happy and are able to play like other children.”
This includes children like 5-year-old Ghazal. Her close-knit family fled their home in Sabra, settling in a tent in Rafah, where the only usable bathroom was in a nearby school. One day, as Ghazal was leaving the bathroom, she was hit by a water truck and severely injured. She was rushed to International Medical Corps’ field hospital, where doctors initially thought her foot would need to be amputated—which deeply distressed her parents. However, our team worked hard to avoid this and ultimately only had to remove one of Ghazal’s toes.
When she was admitted to the hospital, our CP team identified her as a high-priority case. Working with Ghazal and her mother, they developed a comprehensive care plan to address the child’s physical, social and psychological needs, as well as the needs of her family. This included psychological first aid for Ghazal’s mother, and continuous emotional support and time at the child-friendly space for Ghazal. Regular follow-ups—including nutritional support and weekly physical therapy sessions—contributed to Ghazal’s recovery.
At first, Ghazal was apprehensive about leaving the hospital tent to go to the child-friendly space. Recognizing the difficulties she was having, our staff went to the hospital to visit Ghazal and the other injured children, bringing activities with them so that the children could play without having to leave their tent. Still feeling overwhelmed by everything that had happened to her, Ghazal had difficulty engaging. The team was patient and persistent, gently introducing activities and offering support.
Gradually, Ghazal began to feel more comfortable. She started looking forward to the activities and participating in them more freely. Today, her physical health has improved, she has learned how to express her emotions and form friendships, and she has more confidence in herself.
“Her transformation is a testament to the effectiveness of personalized and compassionate support in overcoming initial reluctance and helping children regain their confidence and joy,” Abeer says.