Here’s an update on our work for children in Gaza.
The situation there continues to be dire. More than 12,000 of Gaza’s children have been killed since the attack on Israel on October 7th. Airstrikes are killing humanitarian workers, journalists, health workers and civilians. Nearly all kids in Gaza are at imminent risk of famine with nowhere safe to go, pushing their mental health past a breaking point. Meanwhile, children from Israel are still believed to be held hostage – their families are unsure if they're alive.
The state of the world for children can make us feel helpless, John, but please know that your support is making an impact now.
Here are a few things supporters like you and our local partners have helped us do:
Distribute over 3,000 food packages, 53,000 water bottles and more than 24,000 hygiene and dignity kits to local shelters and households
Provide more than 1,000 children with psychosocial support services
Distribute 1,000 first-aid kits and other medical supplies
Now, our concern turns to Rafah, where almost every child who has managed to survive the past four months of bombardment is now located. This is one of the few remaining areas in Gaza where hospitals, water and sanitation facilities and bakeries are still partially functioning. It is also the base for the majority of humanitarian organizations.
This crisis is far from over, John, but we aren’t going anywhere. Here is what we are doing right now:
We continue to call for a definitive ceasefire to save and protect the lives of children in Gaza.
We urge the free flow of aid to prevent children from dying of starvation and disease.
We call for the unconditional release of all child and civilian hostages. Holding hostages is a cruel, harmful war crime – with devastating impacts on children and families.
