Storyline: Nearly 57,000 children have been orphaned since the Gaza conflict began two years ago, as local authorities warn of an escalating humanitarian crisis and call for sustained international support. In a torn, wind-battered tent in southern Gaza, 13-year-old Malak Al-Sheikh Eid begins each morning burdened with responsibilities no child should ever bear. Forced to grow up overnight, she has become the sole caregiver for her seven younger siblings. She lost her father first, then her mother in a deadly attack during humanitarian aid distribution, joining tens of thousands of children in Gaza orphaned by the ongoing conflict. "My father was killed 11 months before my mother. He returned home to bring us blankets and clothes, but a drone struck him at the door and tore him into pieces," said Malak. Malak is just one of nearly 57,000 orphans in Gaza today, according to social development authorities, with thousands left completely alone as support systems struggle to cope. "My mother went to get aid in Shakoush. They said there would be no shooting, but there was gunfire and pepper spray from the start. She was supposed to come back, but she was killed," she said. Since her parents' deaths, Malak has assumed the role of mother and father, cooking, cleaning, and comforting her siblings, all while navigating her own grief. "Before they killed my parents, I never did any chores. My mother handled everything. Doing it all alone is hard, but the hardest part is that she's not here anymore," she said. Gaza's social welfare officials warn the scale of the orphan crisis far exceeds current capacities. Tens of thousands of children lack stable shelter, income sources, or psychological care. As aid agencies continue to call for urgent, long-term humanitarian assistance, children like Malak face a crushed childhood and a future clouded by grief, instability, and uncertainty. Shotlist: Gaza - Nov 2025: 1. Various of 13-year-old Malak Al-Sheikh Eid taking on household chores after losing parents 2. SOUNDBITE (Arabic, dubbed in English) Malak Al-Sheikh Eid, orphan: "My father was killed 11 months before my mother. He returned home to bring us blankets and clothes, but a drone struck him at the door and tore him into pieces." 3. Various of Malak combing her younger sister's hair 4. SOUNDBITE (Arabic, dubbed in English) Malak Al-Sheikh Eid, orphan: "My mother went to get aid in Shakoush. They said there would be no shooting, but there was gunfire and pepper spray from the start. She was supposed to come back, but she was killed." 5. Various of Malak doing cleaning 6. SOUNDBITE (Arabic, dubbed in English) Malak Al-Sheikh Eid, orphan: "Before they killed my parents, I never did any chores. My mother handled everything. Doing it all alone is hard, but the hardest part is that she's not here anymore." 7. Various of children on street, playing among ruins [Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland]