Although no longer in the international spotlight, the humanitarian crisis in Palestine continues unabated. In Gaza, food insecurity impacts 7 out of 10 people due to widespread poverty and high unemployment. As the strangulating blockade approaches its twelfth year, the overall health and well-being of the civilian population continue on a downward spiral. Meanwhile, the…
As 2018 comes to an end, we are sad to report that living conditions in Gaza continue to get worse, taking an unfathomable toll on the population. Unemployment is over 55%, with youth unemployment at 75%, while most who do get paid receive only half their wages. Many families live on $1 a day, at best.…
With every passing month, Gaza becomes more “unlivable”. More than 1.6 Million of the Gaza Strip’s 2 million residents now rely on the delivery of humanitarian goods and services just to survive. According to the World Bank “Gaza’s economy is in a free fall” with an unemployment rate reaching more than 32 percent, “the highest…
For over thirty years, Dr. Mads Gilbert has worked in conflict zones including volunteering in hospitals under siege in West Beirut, Lebanon during the 80s and Gaza for the last two decades. His perspective as a doctor and activist in such a conflicted time and area makes him the ideal person for our upcoming speaking…
For many parents, the most challenging part of the school day involves waking children from sleep and preparing them to leave the comfort of the home. Education is easily taken for granted. In Palestine, however, recently publicized cuts to UNRWA funding threaten the one bright spot in the lives of thousands of Palestinian children – education. Make…
An urgent appeal was made today by Mr. Jamie McGoldrick, the Humanitarian Coordinator for the occupied Palestinian territory. Fuel supplies are dangerously low affecting every aspect of life in Gaza. “We have now run out of funds and are delivering the final supplies in the next few days. Without funds to enable ongoing deliveries, service…
Speaking after a recent visit to Palestine, UN Special Rapporteur Michael Lynx declared that in Gaza, “Residents are deprived of their most basic rights, including the rights to health, to education, and most recently, in attempting to exercise their right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, they were deprived of the right to life.”…
Musallam lives with his wife and six children, ranging in age from 9 months to 7 years old, in a structure that consists of 2 small rooms just outside of Rafah, near the Egyptian border. The home has a metallic roof, no windows, no electricity, no running water, and therefore poor sanitation. In short, uninhabitable…
Assalamu alaikum and Ramadan Kareem! We are in the midst of a new Ramadan season. Many of us visit family and friends to break fast throughout the month, often feasting on our favorite foods within the safety of our homes. During this blessed month, we must not forget to care for those who are unable…
Living in Gaza is a challenge for anyone, but today it is especially so with the with electricity running at a mere 4 hours a day, limited availability of clean water, and a blockade that persists, entering its 11th year. Our annual Ramadan Farmers project distributes fresh food to the most marginalized areas, mostly where…
Did you know that 47% of households in Gaza don’t know where their next meal will come from? (OCHA, 2016) Since March 30, over 40 Palestinian protesters, including 5 children, have been killed and over a thousand injured, among them hundreds of children who were attacked with live ammunition. Participation in a demonstration does not constitute…
In Gaza, Women, who account for 49% of the population, bear a heavy share of the burden of economic strangulation imposed by the 11 year blockade. During that time, the number of women seeking employment has increased 200%. Many of these women are highly educated and now find themselves as the breadwinners of their family…
Gaza: Our Duty, Our Children Join us for an event that is sure to both educate and engage guests, informing them of the people and communities we are serving during the month of Ramadan. In the exotic ambience of Phoenicia Restaurant in Glendale California, keynote speaker, Dr. Saree Makdisi will discuss the plight of the…
The humanitarian situation in Gaza is deteriorating on all levels in a downward spiral demanding immediate intervention to prevent a total collapse. There is a continued sense of despair with 80% of the population relying on aid to survive. Electricity, for those fortunate enough to have it, runs about 5-6 hours a day disrupting basic…
Palestinians in Gaza are suffering. Nearly 12,000 families remain internally displaced since the war in 2014, many of whom are still living in tents. Eighty percent of the 1.9 million people are living on humanitarian aid, without which they could not meet their basic needs. Suicide rates are at an all-time high, and divorce, once…
Once again, the blessed month of Ramadan is upon us, and we at KinderUSA would like to wish you and your families Ramadan Mubarak! KinderUSA’s Ramadan Farmers Food Project is now in its 12th year delivering fresh vegetables, fruit, live poultry and freshly prepared dairy products reaching over 2500 families consisting of 8-13 family members.…
Gaza residents have had their daily electricity usage reduced further after the only power station in Gaza stopped operating. Official reports of reductions from eight hours a day to just six, jeopardizes every aspect of life in Gaza. Water and sanitation services have been severely affected with many households experiencing reduced flow or no water…
The fallout from the 2014 war in Gaza continues to have a devastating effect on the lives of the Palestinian people. Families are spending over half their income on just the necessities to live, and those are the ones who have income. One in 2 people are considered food insecure . With over 50% of…
Ashraf is a young boy suffering from chronic malnutrition which affects a third of Gaza’s children, according to UNICEF. In April, he and his mother, residents of Beach Camp (also known as Al-Shati), visited the KinderUSA funded program implemented by our partner Ard El Insan (AEI) which is designed to address chronic malnutrition among children…
With the closure of neighboring borders, tens of thousands of refugees are trapped in Greece, including over 1900 unaccompanied minors. Many of these refugees escaped war after losing siblings, parents, relatives, friends, neighbors, homes, and their livelihoods. Many have followed family members who have already secured asylum in other countries away from the daily bombings,…
Even as recent events – from the horrific war in Syria to the traumatic flight of migrants to Europe – shine a spotlight on the plight of the world’s children, the forgotten children of Palestine continue to suffer from a denial of basic human rights. For these children, the daily struggle for food, shelter, education,…
The longer someone goes without food the hungrier they become. The same can be said of someone who goes without work. They are denied their very basic needs; food, shelter, protection, stability, and freedom from fear. Unfortunately, this is all too common in Gaza. The effects of the blockade have led to a consistent decline…
While the tide of humanity, desperate yet hopeful to forge a gateway into Europe, garners the world’s attention, the people of Gaza, equally desperate remain imprisoned with no chance for escape by land or sea. Electricity is available only three to six hours a day and more than 70% of Gaza’s children are food insecure.…