Dreams shattered: A bleak future awaits Gaza’s children

Amid an unprecedented escalation in Gaza, Shahin Ashraf, Islamic Relief’s head of global advocacy, revisits the findings of a report on the dire situation facing Gaza’s young people

3 years ago, on International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian people, Islamic Relief launched the report ‘Dreams on hold.’ It focused on youth unemployment and a mental health crisis among young people in Gaza.

Through speaking to young Palestinians, we came to understand the sense of hopelessness many felt when contemplating their future, as occupation and blockade had put their dreams indefinitely on hold.
Today, the situation in Gaza has become even more desperate. More than 14,800 lives have been lost since the unprecedented escalation began in early October, and a significant majority of those killed have been children.

With no end in sight to the hostilities, the dreams young people spoke of in the report are no longer just on hold; they have been heartbreakingly obliterated.

We have no idea when the long-term impacts of the current escalation will become clear, right now people in Gaza are simply struggling to survive. However, there is little doubt that the psychological and economic challenges for young people will be immense.

In this context, we revisit some of our findings from the 2020 report to highlight the desperate situation in Gaza, and once again emphasise the need for a permanent ceasefire.

No escape from poverty and hopelessness

When we first commissioned the report, the challenges young people faced were already immense, with Gaza’s youth unemployment rate standing at 70%.

The relentless grip of poverty and the shadow of mental health challenges loomed large over the people of Gaza. Decades of occupation and recurrent bombing had forged a seemingly inescapable connection between endemic poverty and the pervasive struggles of mental health. The burden was staggering, as studies revealed that over 68% of adolescents had developed post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), while a staggering 95% grappled with severe anxiety.

The toll on the mental wellbeing of young people was heartbreaking. Depression, like a heavy fog, enveloped their lives, pushing some to the brink of despair, and even to the point where death seemed like the only escape. This generation was in limbo, unable to dream of a future due to political and socioeconomic challenges.

Despair, frustration and depression

When speaking to young people, we found striking similarities in their experiences. The challenges of everyday life under blockade weakened community ties, while a struggling healthcare system contributed to a severe mental health crisis.

“Despair, frustration, and depression is very common among graduates. I have felt all of these things since I graduated,” Salman, a 26-year-old from Gaza told us.

Meanwhile Abdallah linked a collective feeling of hopelessness to the situation the people of Gaza live in, saying: “We’re a people under occupation. We feel failure while hunger and unemployment rise.”

The direct link between political circumstances and economic hardship was made even clearer listening to stories of people like Reham, who secured a job in Türkiye, only to lose it when the closure of crossings in and out of Gaza made it impossible for him to reach work.

Financial insecurity can massively impact a person’s physical and mental wellbeing and these conversations reinforced this intersection of poverty and mental health challenges. These were not just academic observations, but lived experiences – a daily struggle against despair, frustration, and the suffocating weight of persistent hardship that all people in Gaza face.

Empathy and understanding

The perspectives shared in the report emphasised the pressing need to attend to not only the physical needs, but also the emotional wellbeing and welfare of the people of Gaza. The call for empathy and understanding is imperative, as is the commitment to breaking the chains that perpetuate a cycle of poverty and mental health challenges.

Over the past 7 agonising weeks, a complete disregard for international humanitarian law has unfolded, leading to the largest displacement of Palestinians since 1948—a heart-wrenching exodus laid bare before our eyes. This is more than a mere geographical upheaval; it’s a profound disruption of lives, forcing people to abandon the very essence of their existence; their homes.

Within this upheaval, there is an emotional resonance, with individuals being compelled to revisit unendurable traumas from the past. The scars of history, left unhealed, cast a long shadow over the younger generation, burdening them with the unspoken traumas endured by their ancestors or parents.

‘What can we do to help?

Amid the harrowing escalation in Gaza, many traumatised children find themselves in a perpetual state of motion. Faced with the grim reality that even hospitals and schools have been hit by bombs, they are compelled to embark on arduous journeys in search of safety.

This relentless search, coupled with the realisation that nowhere is immune from the ravages of this escalation, places an immense strain on the mental health of all of Gaza’s people, including the young. The profound impact of this perpetual insecurity underscores the urgent need to address the mental health crisis in a community where sanctuary is elusive.

A permanent ceasefire is urgently needed to save lives and ensure an unimpeded flow of vital supplies into Gaza, preventing people from suffering further hunger and thirst. The international community has the power to initiate life-saving efforts in Gaza without delay.

In the heart-wrenching saga that is Gaza’s plight, each traumatised resident bears a name, an identity, with dreams and hopes that refuse to be extinguished. In the face of adversity, these dreams persist, flickering like fragile flames that resist being snuffed out. Their resilience is a testament to the indomitable human spirit, and it is our collective responsibility to ensure that their dreams not only endure, but flourish in the promise of a brighter tomorrow.

The urgency lies not just in providing immediate relief but in keeping the stories of Palestinians alive. Young people, resilient witnesses to this upheaval, embody the enduring hope for Gaza’s future. Our responsibility is to listen to them, to amplify their voices in the face of their desperate plea to the world. They strive against their own dehumanisation, trying to communicate their harrowing plight, yet the world persists in treating them as expendable, reducing them to mere statistics—people unjustly deemed unworthy of lives and dreams.

This is a call to action, a plea for empathy, and a commitment to rebuilding shattered dreams and the promise of a better tomorrow. The initial report, Dreams on Hold, aimed to preserve at least a semblance of hope. Yet, what remains now are shattered dreams—a stark reminder of the urgent need to address the escalating crisis in Gaza.

Please help Islamic Relief continue providing vital support to people in desperate need in Gaza. Donate to our Palestine Emergency Appeal now.