The current situation in Gaza is appalling.  13,000 civilians have fled their homes, more than half children, and are now living in schools set up as shelters by UNRWA.  For the majority of the population, there are no safe areas to flee.  Hospitals in Gaza are overflowing with many dying in the hallways before being seen due to the overwhelming number of casualties.  Generators are the sole power source keeping the hospitals operating around the clock; this will come to an end due to fuel shortages and spare parts making it impossible to operate life saving equipment.

Gaza's water and sewage system is on the verge of collapse following bombardments that have destroyed electricity lines and months of preventing fuel supplies needed to produce electricity. 75% of Gaza's electricity has been cut off, just as hospitals, water wells, and other humanitarian institutions most need electricity to treat casualties and provide basic necessities to civilians.

Parts of Gaza have been without clean running water, fuel for cooking, medicines, and electricity for days forcing already traumatized children to cower in the dark.  The lack of electricity for heating at night presents a hypothermia risk for children, particularly babies and newborns. The trickle of humanitarian aid that was allowed in before the ground campaign has been cut off due to the bombardment.

Despite the extreme risk, our partners in Gaza continue to work at capacity.  In addition to the cheese/zatar/date pies, the bakery has begun making and distributing bread since Saturday. It has been reported that there are only 10 bakeries left functioning due to lack of fuel compelling our volunteers and partners to keep the bakery operating regardless of the risk.  The bakery is distributing ready baked pies to over 1000 families who have 7-12 members, with this number increasing by 50 families a day.  Our partners are using bikes, donkeys, and foot to get the food to those families who cannot make it to the bakery and are in remote villages.

Many of our colleagues are trapped in their homes with their children facing extreme trauma due to the fear and uncertainty.  Parents are at a loss of how to protect and care for their children.  They are either unable to find food and clean water for their children or are being forced from their home in harms way to find shelter.

Even before the latest violence, over 50,000 Gazan children were malnourished; more than two-thirds of all children suffered from vitamin A deficiency and almost half of children under age 2 were anemic. Lack of access to food, clean water and medical supplies exacerbates threats to children's health and well-being.  Children are becoming ill from contaminated water and going untreated as hospitals are caring for the overwhelming casualties. Reports indicate that many mothers with infants are incapable of lactating due to lack of sustenance and extreme stress, depriving an entire generation of newborns the benefit of maternal nourishment. 

“Let us be clear, this is a humanitarian catastrophe. An emergency cease fire is urgently needed to allow life saving aid to reach the children,” said Dr. Laila Al-Marayati.  “Full compliance with International Humanitarian Law is absolutely critical with regards to the protection of the civilian population particularly in the densely populated Gaza Strip.”

Kinder USA is planning further operations in the region focusing on clean water and primary health care for children.  Kinder USA will continue to update our donors as the information becomes available.  Please continue to support our efforts by making an online donation of $500, $250, $100, or whatever you can afford on our website at www.kinderusa.org and choose Gaza ER on the drop down menu.  We cannot stress the extreme gravity of the current situation nor the uncertain future.

Gaza Emergency Appeal

In the Gaza Strip, the humanitarian situation is catastrophic. Our partners in Gaza report  that the streets are mostly deserted however, long queues are reported to be forming in front of bakeries. Prices for basic commodities are reportedly rising fast while some neighborhoods are without water because the network was damaged due to power outages.  After 8 months, Gaza is already paralyzed and the people are utterly crippled with no ability to provide for themselves.

Hospitals are completely overwhelmed by the number of serious injuries although some medical supplies have been allowed to cross from Egypt.  However, after 18 months of being sealed off from the world this does not begin to replenish the severe shortages.

Since November, children in Gaza have been drip fed aid, with only 6% of needed humanitarian goods entering from the World Food Program and UNRWA during the entire month.  Now, the children in Gaza are desperate and our work is much more critical.  Many NGO's have suspended their operations due to the high security risks, further complicating ongoing endeavors to feed and care for the increasing number of malnourished children.

Of the 17 bakeries still operating in Gaza, our partner bakery in Khan Younis is functioning at maximum capacity baking bread filled with either spinach, Zaatar, white or yellow cheese and other types of vegetables that are mixed with fresh olive oil. The bread pies will be distributed to 1000 of the poorest families in the eastern villages of the Gaza Strip, over 50% of whom are children. Many of these families are trapped in their homes and have run out of food supplies, sitting in the dark after 3 days of air raids. Other emergency service providers are not able to reach these families due to the proximity of the villages.

Kinder USA is urging its donors to make a donation today to assist in our ongoing emergency efforts.  The situation is fluid with Gaza already desperately lacking food, medicine, and fuel.  Our proposed number of 1000 families is minimal and many, many more families are in need.  All of our projects are on hold as we direct our efforts to this crisis.

"All member states of the United Nations are bound to an independent obligation to protect any civilian population facing massive violations of international humanitarian law - regardless of what country may be responsible for those violations," said Dr. Laila  Al-Marayati.  "I implore all of our donors to contact their elected represented and ask for an end to this carnage. We must do everything we can to support Palestinian children and their families in this  time of extreme suffering."

Please, make an online donation of $500, $250, $100, or whatever you can afford.  The most basic necessities of life are beyond the reach of these children.  Our obligation cannot be overstated. 

Bringing Warmth to the Children

            In Naher El Bared

After witnessing the living conditions of the children in Naher El Bared camp two months after its destruction in 2007, Kinder USA distributed 600 coats and boots to children living in both Bedawi and Naher El Bared who were running about in freezing rain with sweaters and flip flops. A drop in the bucket compared to the need. Our goal this year was to reach 6000 children who have moved back and are living in the camp.  Unfortunately, due to our shortfall in funding, we had to choose which children could receive coats this winter and which would go without.  How does one choose and why should anyone?

After consultation with several of the amazing and dedicated partners living and working in the camps, the ‘choice’ was made to distribute coats only, forgoing the boots this time in an effort to reach more children  with our limited budget of $25,000.  3000 coats were distributed to children in grades 1-6 in UNRWA schools across the camp during various intervals working desperately not to disrupt the classes.  Dr. Laila Al-Marayati along with the director of KinderUSA participated in the distribution and were marveled at the tremendous job both the teachers and volunteers did, ensuring each child received their new coat.

“It is so heartrending to know that 3000 children must make do with what they have to stay warm this winter.  How these children are having to live is intolerable,” said Dr. Laila Al-Marayati.

Our goal, before the end of the year, is to bring coats to the remaining children in Naher El Bared.  Please consider making an online donation today at www.kinderusa.org to bring warmth and solidarity to the children of Naher El Bared. Please use the drop down menu and choose Lebanon.  Without you our work is impossible.