NEW YORK / JERUSALEM - PNN After more than two years of war, displacement and deepening deprivation, young people in Gaza are facing alarming levels of psychological distress, while protection risks for adolescent girls are sharply increasing, with a notable rise in child marriage and early pregnancy, according to new analysis by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).Child marriage and early pregnancy on the risePrior to the war, child marriage in Palestine had declined significantly, dropping from 26% in 2009 to 11% in 2022. However, a UNFPA survey conducted in 2024 indicates mounting pressure across communities to marry girls under the age of 18.More recent evidence from emergency court records highlights the scale of the shift. At least 400 girls aged between 14 and 16 were granted marriage permissions within just four months in 2025, based on paper records reviewed by partner organisations. These figures are likely an undercount, as the collapse of formal registration systems has led to many marriages being conducted informally and going unrecorded.Service providers also report a growing number of forced and early marriages, pointing to a broader and deeply concerning trend: child marriage is resurging under the pressures of war.“We are witnessing the dismantling of a generation’s future,” said Nestor Owomuhangi, UNFPA Country Representative for Palestine. “Girls in Gaza are not choosing marriage — they are being driven into it by hunger, fear and displacement. Child marriage is not protection; it is a form of gender-based violence that strips girls of their childhood, health and future.”As child marriage increases, so too does adolescent pregnancy. Birth rates among teenage girls have more than doubled compared to pre-war levels, according to 2025 data from the Ministry of Health and UNFPA.Health risks for adolescent mothers are significantly higher, particularly as access to healthcare services remains severely limited. Early marriage also exposes girls to increased risks of physical, emotional and sexual violence. In 2025, adolescent girls accounted for 12% of all reported survivors of gender-based violence in the occupied Palestinian territories.At the same time, many girls are cut off from education, economic opportunities and essential support systems.Survival, not choiceUNFPA analysis indicates that child marriage in Gaza is increasingly driven by survival rather than choice. Families facing extreme poverty and displacement are resorting to early marriage as a coping mechanism, sometimes to secure access to basic resources.Overcrowded shelters, insecurity and fear of violence have reinforced the perception of marriage as a form of protection. Meanwhile, the collapse of the education system and the loss of caregivers have further heightened girls’ vulnerability. Under these conditions, harmful social norms are being reinforced, with decisions often made without girls’ consent.A generation at riskChild marriage forms part of a broader protection crisis affecting an entire generation of young Palestinians.The psychological toll is severe. Four in ten young people report symptoms of depression or moderate to severe anxiety, while 61% show signs of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).Years of conflict, occupation, displacement and restricted access to education and employment have left around 70% of youth feeling unsafe, raising concerns about long-term impacts on their health, well-being and future prospects.UNFPA responseIn response, UNFPA has expanded its support through safe spaces for girls, aimed at preventing and responding to child marriage and early pregnancy. These spaces offer counselling, life-skills training and guidance on protection risks.The agency also provides cash assistance to vulnerable households and distributes “dignity kits” containing essential supplies to support girls’ safety and well-being during displacement.UNFPA continues to support youth through health services and skills development programmes. However, funding remains a major challenge. The agency is seeking $20 million to scale up support for adolescent girls and youth as part of its $110 million humanitarian and recovery plan for Gaza, of which only $10 million has been secured so far.“Any investment in Gaza’s future must include investing in its youth,” Owomuhangi said, “to support recovery and restore pathways to education, opportunity and hope.”