Time is running out for Gazan children

The bombs may have stopped falling for now but the war is not over for Gaza’s children. Time is running out to help them. 

That was the stark warning issued to governments attending Sunday’s Donor Conference in Cairo. “Many children are homeless and hungry. Many are completely unprotected and unable to recover from the psychological trauma caused by the war,” said Alex Snary, World Vision’s country director in Jerusalem. “The bombing has stopped but the ongoing blockade is exposing children to continued danger because houses, schools and other child-friendly spaces including playgrounds have been destroyed or have become death traps.”

World Vision has worked with children in Gaza since 2001 responding to emergency needs as well as long-term development programmes, has distributed food parcels to 45,000 people, hygiene kits for 30,000 people, and provided psychological trauma counselling through our 40 child-friendly spaces, for 4,000 children. 

Since the recent indefinite ceasefire in Gaza aid agencies like World Vision should have the opportunity to respond to those children in need, but Israel’s blockade on Gaza is currently making this extremely difficult. World Vision is calling on World leaders at the conference to demand a lifting of the blockade to ensure there is unrestricted humanitarian access.

The most recent fighting was the third such case of overt warfare waged between Hamas and Israel since 2007, and the most devastating. In addition to the deaths of more than 500 children, current estimates place damage in Gaza at US$8 billion. Today close to one million Gazan’s remain homeless, sheltering in schools or temporary buildings. In some shelters conditions are so over-crowded parents are taking it in turns to sleep because there isn’t enough space to lie down.  Food sources within Gaza are also running low.

Government leaders must prioritise the interests of children. Gaza’s children need urgent help. They need stability, access to education, food and clean water. Most of all they need a chance to grieve, relax and play. Rebuilding schools, health centres, homes, greenhouses, and places where children can recover in child-friendly spaces all costs money. Unless enough funds are raised to provide both emergency relief and begin rebuilding infrastructure then the future of an entire generation is at stake. 

For more information and interview requests, please call +447889 631613