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Â鶹APPÂ鶹APP™s report, Early Childhood Development in Gaza: A Blueprint and Urgent Call for Action, estimates that more than 504,000 pregnant and lactating women and children under six in Gaza are facing early childhood development-related challenges. Together, they represent nearly a quarter of GazaÂ鶹APP™s population.

The report highlights thatÌý

• 58,000 children have lost one or both parents and more are unaccompanied or separated from theirÌýparentsÌý

• 70,000 children have been left without access to kindergartens after the war has decimated educational infrastructureÌýÌý

• 100% of children need mental health and psychosocial support,ÌýdemonstratingÌýan urgent mental health crisis in Gaza.Ìý

Authored by Maysa Jalbout, the report outlines 20 focus areas for interventions across healthcare, nutrition, responsive caregiving, security and safety, and early learning.

The blueprint calls for critical ECD services to be introduced as early as possible to mitigate the long-term impact on children starting through series of coordinated ECD delivery hubs for children and caregivers across the region. The recovery phase, spanning two to five years post-ceasefire, should then focus on restoring essential ECD services and laying the foundations for sustainable recovery by rebuilding health systems, education, and psychosocial support.

The Gaza report is part of our regional response to support children affected by crises in the Middle East.