As the world holds its collective breath, hoping that the devastating Israeli assault on Gaza has truly come to an end, Palestinian families once again struggle to pick up the shattered pieces of their lives. The latest aerial bombardment and military incursion has left over 1800 dead, including more than 400 children. Nearly 10,000 others have been injured, 30% of whom are children, with many in need of critical medical care. In all, nearly 30% of Gaza’s population has been displaced, including 65,000 people who have lost their homes and have nowhere to go. Holding back tears, KinderUSA representative Hana expresses her feelings of sadness and grief: “There are families since 2012 living without a home, now where will these families go? Most have no electricity and it is very hot. My baby wears only pampers as it is so hot. This is not Gaza – all the infrastructure is gone.” The entire population of Gaza, 1.8 million people, has been affected directly or indirectly by the ongoing tragedy. The UNRWA shelter coordinator has noted that many families have returned to their homes only to find nothing remaining. Thus far, KinderUSA has distributed $250,000 in emergency funds for food, medicines, and non-food items. KinderUSA is also preparing hygiene kits for families that have remained behind in 13 shelters in Rafah. The devastation has also spawned a critical shortage in clean water. Wells, pipelines, and reservoirs have been destroyed, preventing people from cooking, flushing toilets, or simply washing their hands. In response to the water crisis, KinderUSA has paid for tanker trucks with 100,000 liter capacity to supply potable water to ten distribution points in Khan Younis for a period of 3 weeks. KinderUSA continues to deliver food to needy Palestinian families, but much more is needed. While many families are receiving dried goods from numerous NGOs, KinderUSA has been supplementing these contributions with fresh produce produced by local farmers. Unfortunately, many farmers have found their lands destroyed along with their crops, while many more are littered with unexploded ordinance, creating further risk for farmers and their children. This latest conflict has once again traumatized the civilian population, and children remain the most vulnerable of all. Over the past month, many children have lost loved ones (some, entire families), and these survivors have endured unimaginable horrors. These innocent children will need long term psychosocial support to help them recover from this unspeakable tragedy and to provide hope for a better tomorrow. As the people of Gaza attempt to move beyond this latest crisis, psychosocial support, education, and development will be of paramount importance. KinderUSA will continue to stand with the children of Palestine, but we need your help to continue! “Inshallah this is the last time we have to rebuild,” said Hana. “We are still rebuilding from 2008. We cannot continue like this. My children have the same right to live as all children!” This is why KinderUSA exists. Nothing in this world can compare with the desperate hope of a mother for a better future for her children. Hana is right - the children of Palestine deserve better. Help us bring hope to these beautiful children and their families.
Posted on: Wed, 06 Aug 2014 18:09:49 +0000