Aziza Al-Kahlout, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Social Development in Gaza, stated that the Israeli genocide war on the Gaza Strip has resulted in around 40,000 orphans, some of whom have also been added to the list of the wounded or disabled as a result of the war.

Al-Kahlout added that 700 of these children have lost all their family members, introducing the term “the sole survivor.”

She pointed out that all services dedicated to orphans — including regular and irregular sponsorships — have been suspended due to the liquidity crisis in the Strip as a result of the war. She also highlighted the social, psychological, and health damage faced by orphans in the region.

The ministry is currently working on reorganizing and restructuring the orphan care system in a way that guarantees the protection of their legal and financial rights. She called on orphan care institutions to move beyond sponsorships to a model of comprehensive care — one that continues even after the orphan surpasses the legal age of 18.