Gaza war increasing speech disorders among children: UN

The United Nations has warned of a significant increase in speech disorders among children in the Gaza Strip, due to the fear and anxiety caused by the ongoing Israeli war.

In a statement published on its website yesterday, the UN explained that the relentless bombardment and widespread destruction are causing severe psychological stress, which is affecting children’s ability to speak.

The UN cited speech therapist Amina Al-Dahdouh, who works in a temporary camp for displaced people in the west of Al-Zawayda in Deir Al-Balah, warning that “six out of ten children in the camp currently suffer from speech difficulties.”  “Stuttering is the problem that has increased the most,” she added.

Al-Dahdouh noted that she is treating more than 50 children in this camp alone, with increasing demand for her services in other camps.

The United Nations emphasised that speech problems are not limited to children, but can affect people of all ages in Gaza and may become more evident once the war ends.

The organisation also highlighted the urgent need for psychosocial support for over one million children in the region. It stressed the severe impact of the war on the mental and physical health of children in Gaza, warning of the long-term consequences for an entire generation.

Read: Innocence is under siege, with a psychological toll on Gaza’s children