‘Marathon’ shines light on Gaza’s orphaned children and humanitarian crisis

A running event held in Khan Younis, Gaza brought together dozens of orphaned children to participate in a public activity designed to spotlight their struggles and generate community support. The race, organized by International Networking for Humanitarian Indonesia, provided a brief respite from the destruction surrounding participants while highlighting the urgent needs of children who have lost parents during the ongoing conflict.

One participant, 13-year-old Saif Hijazi, lost his father in an Israeli attack on the family home in northern Gaza in January 2024. Saif himself became paralyzed in January 2025 when Israeli artillery shelling struck near his displaced family's tent, forcing him to watch his younger siblings run from a wheelchair. His experience exemplifies the compounding trauma facing Gaza's children.

According to health officials in Gaza, Israeli military operations since October 2023 have killed more than 73,000 people. The United Nations children agency UNICEF reports that more than 58,000 children have lost one or both parents, while over one million children require psychological support due to war impacts. Approximately 17,000 children are unaccompanied or separated from families, creating what UNICEF describes as one of the largest child protection crises in the territory.

Orphaned children in Gaza face repeated displacement, loss of household income and severely limited access to healthcare, education and protection services. Mohammed Yassin, project coordinator at INH Indonesia, emphasized that families still having a provider struggle to meet basic needs due to loss of purchasing power and deteriorating conditions. He noted that organizational efforts cannot reach all affected children, making community awareness and sponsorship essential for survival and recovery.