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Contribution short abstract

Findings of a recent study conducted in Gaza underscore intersecting economic, physical, psychological and social challenges, including widespread food and water insecurity and low access to WASH resources. Improving living conditions for IDPs, livelihood support, WASH and food are top priorities.

Contribution long abstract

Accounting for around one third of Gaza’s population, young people, who are at a crucial stage of their development, have experienced unparalleled traumatic events over the past two years. While essential for informing an urgently needed adolescent- and youth-centred humanitarian response, there has been limited robust evidence on the impact of the conflict on young people’s capabilities.

This paper explores the challenges facing young people in Gaza, examining how the intersecting impacts of the genocide have affected young people’s capability outcomes. It draws on mixed methods research in 2024-2025 with 1380 young people aged 10-24 years in Gaza as a part of the Gender and Adolescence: Global Evidence (GAGE) longitudinal study.

Findings underscore severe and intersecting economic, physical, psychological and social challenges, including widespread food and water insecurity, lack of safe shelter, and low access to sanitary supplies for girls. Only half of young participants who had experienced serious injuries or illness had access to healthcare, and household and community violence had escalated. High rates of trauma and low coping and resilience scores were recorded. Females (especially married adolescents), orphans and young people with disabilities had the poorest capability outcomes.

These findings highlight the urgency of addressing the disproportionate impact of the genocide on young people. Improving living conditions for IDPs, livelihood support, WASH and food aid may address some of the underlying stressors young people and their families are facing, and investments in school- and community-based psychosocial support must be core components of emergency response and recovery.