Toronto, ON, January 20, 2025 – Plan International Canada welcomes the confirmation of a ceasefire agreement and the resumption of aid delivery in Gaza, as well as the release of civilian hostages. We urge all parties to commit to taking all necessary measures to ensure that this ceasefire is permanent, sustainable and leads to lasting peace.

While this agreement offers a moment of hope for children who have been suffering unimaginable loss during this conflict, and many Israeli families awaiting the return of their loved ones taken hostage, the situation for children in Gaza remains bleak. At least 17,580 children and 12,050 women have been killed in Gaza over the past 15 months. A further 21,000 Palestinian children have sustained traumatic conflict-related injuries, many of them requiring significant rehabilitation with a high likelihood of disability.

Over 46,700 people have been killed in Gaza since October 7, 2023 with the actual number of deaths believed to be much higher, and thousands of people remain buried in the rubble of homes, hospitals, and schools. Food, water, safe shelter, healthcare and other essentials are in desperately short supply.

Plan International Canada reiterates its call for:

• Safe and unhindered access for aid into all parts of the Gaza Strip.
• The protection of civilians, humanitarian workers, healthcare workers and their facilities.
• The unconditional release of all hostages and Palestinian children held in detention.

Children face devastating challenges
The scale of the crisis in Gaza has left children and their families facing devastation. The destruction of homes, infrastructure, hospitals, schools, and essential services has left Gaza in truly dire condition and families will need help to rebuild. The few remaining hospitals are only partially operational, significantly understaffed, overwhelmed with critical patients, and medical supplies are dangerously low, putting children at risk of untreated injuries, preventable diseases, long-term mental health and psychosocial impacts and disability.

The international community must prioritize the immediate humanitarian needs of Palestinian children and their families.
In addition to the medical crisis, the destruction of schools and the displacement of civilians means that countless children are separated from their families, caregivers and friends and are left without access to education or safe spaces to play, heal and learn. Rebuilding educational infrastructure must be a key focus, as it provides not just learning, but a pathway to cope and heal from this traumatic time.

The destruction of civilian infrastructure – including water and sanitation systems – in Gaza has had a catastrophic impact on Palestinians and has left children exceptionally vulnerable to life threatening waterborne diseases, such as diarrhoea and cholera. Restoring clean water access and sanitation must be a top priority to avoid further health emergencies and preventable deaths of thousands of children.

Urgent mental health support
Equally important is the need for immediate and wide-scale mental health support. Many children in Gaza, including thousands of orphaned or separated children, have experienced or witnessed extreme violence. Psychosocial services must be expanded immediately to help children begin to recover from the psychological scars of hostilities. Children who have sustained blast injuries and disabilities arising from shrapnel, burns and fallen buildings with no surviving family members require special attention.

Although the ceasefire is a crucial first step, the needs of Gaza’s children are ongoing. The international community must come together to support Gaza, ensuring that children’s rights to health, education, and safety are prioritized. These efforts must be part of a broader commitment to peace, justice, and lasting stability.

About Plan International Canada

Plan International Canada is a member of a global organization dedicated to advancing children’s rights and equality for girls. Plan International has been building powerful partnerships for children for over 85 years and is now active in more than 80 countries. We stand with children, especially girls, wherever they are oppressed, exploited, left behind or not equally valued. We’re determined optimists and will continue to persevere until we are all equal.

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