Out of school and living in overcrowded shelters, children in Gaza face a heightened risk of violence, exploitation and abuse, warns the International Rescue Committee, Al Jazeera reports.

“They are not only being denied their childhood, but are also experiencing extreme trauma,” said Ulrike Julia Wendt, IRC’s emergency child protection coordinator, adding that young girls are at risk of being subjected to early or forced marriages.

“If the war goes long and education remains interrupted with no guidance, many will grow up without understanding their health and rights and potentially leading to the normalisation of gender-based violence,” said Wendt, who recently returned from a trip to Gaza.

In overcrowded shelters, women are also especially vulnerable to abuse, Wendt added, including violence and sexual exploitation.