2025-07-22T13:38:48Z

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In an unsettling revelation that shakes the core of humanity, children in Gaza are expressing a harrowing wish to die due to the unbearable lack of food and clean water. This disheartening information comes from Rachel Cummings, the humanitarian director for Save the Children, during an interview on RTÉ's News At One.

As the ongoing conflict in Gaza drags on, it's leaving a significant scar on the mental health of the region's children. Ms. Cummings shared an alarming insight: in the child-friendly spaces provided by the charity, children have been openly admitting their desire to seek solace in death, believing that only in heaven will they find sustenance and safety. "We have children in our child-friendly spaces, where we provide psychological support, sharing with us that they now wish to die because there is food and water in heaven," she stated, painting a bleak picture of the emotional turmoil these young ones are experiencing.

The emotional toll is compounded by the presence of their family members—mothers and fathers—who are equally desperate and suffering. The charity's findings indicate an urgent need for immediate support, highlighting that the current situation is catastrophic not just in the short term but also in the long term for the mental and physical well-being of these children.

In addition to the psychological distress, Save the Children has reported increasing instances of malnutrition among children, pregnant women, and nursing mothers. Ms. Cummings pointed out that for the past five days, food has been virtually non-existent in the markets of Deir al-Balah, a reflection of the broader, dire situation engulfing Gaza. "The situation gets worse and worse every day, which is impossible and incredible to think about," she lamented. Families are resorting to rationing their meager supplies, forcing them to make gut-wrenching choices about how much to feed their children, sometimes diluting food with dirty water that could lead to illness.

As the conflict escalates, the atmosphere in Gaza is one of unrelenting fear and suffering. Ms. Cummings describes the chilling reality faced by those in the region: “Everyone in Gaza is hungry, exhausted, and terrified.” Many have been displaced, overcrowding areas further south, such as al-Mawasi and Khan Younis, with no safe refuge in sight. The relentless sounds of gunfire and bombardments echo constantly, and as Ms. Cummings noted, “There is nowhere safe in Gaza.”

This heartbreaking situation serves as a stark reminder of the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza, where the most innocent—children—are bearing the brunt of a war they did not choose. As we reflect on these tragic stories, we are urged to consider what we can do to help those in need.