After the recent attacks on Gaza leaving six children dead, KinderUSA with our partners have determined the necessity to scale up summer activities for the children, prioritizing those areas greatly affected. In the last 24 months, children in Gaza have faced unprecedented violence, death, and destruction re-traumatizing them and worsening an already dire situation causing…
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.”…
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…
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 services to hospitals, health clinics, sewage and water treatment facilities. Three hospitals and ten medical centers have already suspended services due to lack of fuel impacting 300,000 people. According to the World Bank, “access to improved drinking water sources in Gaza declined to one of the worst in the world today”, further reporting that “96% of the water is not suitable for human consumption”.
The blockade on Gaza, now in its 11th year, prevents people and goods from moving, leaving the population isolated and trapped. In 2017, 54 Gazan’s died awaiting ‘permission’ to receive vital treatment outside.
After the recent attacks on Gaza leaving six children dead, KinderUSA with our partners have determined the necessity to scale up summer activities for the children, prioritizing those areas greatly affected. In the last 24 months, children in Gaza have faced unprecedented violence, death, and destruction re-traumatizing them and worsening an already dire situation causing further psychosocial stress in their day-to-day life.
A recent study through the end of 2022 found that more than two-thirds of children surveyed in Gaza experienced “below-average” levels of well-being and “conflict-related trauma”. Adding to the most recent assaults, the impact has left unimaginable scars of hopelessness and insecurity on these fragile young lives who should never have to consider whether they will survive the next attack.
Working with our partners and mentors to guide the activities, KinderUSA will implement summer events in eight of the affected areas in Gaza where one hundred children a day will participate in basketball competitions, dribbling and passing balls, mural painting and more in 14 safe play areas. Each day will end with a nutritious meal, which many of the children look forward to as they are often provided only one meal a day in the summer due to current economic conditions.
“Last year the children saw the bus coming and started shouting Kinder, Kinder!”, said our field coordinator. “More children participated than we identified which was both a challenge and a measure of the need.”
For decades now, children in Gaza have faced an endless cycle of violence, death, and destruction, coupled with a suffocating 16 year blockade of land, air, and sea, extracting a toll on their well-being and changing them forever. We are asking our donors today to help KinderUSA bring some joy in the lives of these children by donating whatever is meaningful to you. Thank you for your continued compassion.
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.”
Indeed, it bears repeating that Gaza has been under a constant air, sea, land, and economic blockade for over eleven years and a suffocating campaign that has deprived the civilian population of basic necessities including food, clean water, and electricity that many of us take for granted in the modern age.
HOW CAN YOU HELP ALLEVIATE SUFFERING FROM THIS ONGOING HUMANITARIAN NIGHTMARE?
As a modest response to the pervasive poverty and economic distress experienced by Palestinians living in Gaza, KinderUSA has embarked on a chicken farming micro-enterprise project that empowers female heads of households. The initial stage of the project began in March with 38 households and continued through the end of June.
One of our beneficiaries, 48-year-old Nisreen, supports a family of 5 boys and 3 girls, one of whom is physically challenged and requires special care at home. As the sole provider for her family, Nisreen spoke about how the chicken farming project has changed her life and her children’s lives.
“The project is rare in Gaza. They provided me with everything I needed to start and continue the business. I received 200 chicks until I sold them and did not pay any dollars. I sold 165 of the chickens back to KinderUSA for Ramadan and after, they gave me 200 more. I was able to buy food and clothes for my children. My girls were so excited since it’s been a long time since they received new clothing! Alhumdulilah (thank God), I succeeded and was able to share my earnings and some food as charity with my neighbor.”
Now, KinderUSA hopes to replicate this success with 38 new families for a period of 4-5 months, providing the same education, training, tools, and 200 chicks to female heads of household. For a little more than $400 a month, we are helping provide an income to indigent families in Gaza, providing sustainability and offering the hope of a more secure future.
Over the past decade, the blockade of Gaza has had a devastating impact on the well-being of Palestinian children. With your generous support, KinderUSA will continue to work on behalf of these vulnerable children, providing small pockets of hope in a sea of misery.
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 after their spouses are either incapacitated from injury or deceased.
Such is the case of Nisreen, a widow caring for her 7 children. She lost her husband to cancer 5 years ago and has struggled to survive ever since. In Gaza, cancer is a death sentence, and not for lack of expertise, but rather for lack of proper treatment due to the siege.
Living in a two room house with no doors, windows, electricity, nor safe water and sanitation, life for Nisreen and her children is unbearable. Her older children want to help, but they too find they increasingly have no options for employment. This kind of despair has led many to the borders over the past few weeks to demonstrate their frustration and desperation.
Sadly, many of the youth have lost all hope, turning to drugs and other negative outlets to help them cope. Children are forced to drop out of school and work in risky occupations to help put food on the table. Cuts to UNRWA, which provides critical services to over 75% of Gaza’s population coupled with non-payment of salaries are leading to a complete collapse across all sectors.
“The lives of these children and their families have value and cannot be taken with impunity,” said Dr. Laila Al-Marayati, KinderUSA Chair, “We have to help replace despair with hope, reminding the global community that Gaza’s children belong to all of us.”
With that in mind, we at KinderUSA along with our implementing partner, Beit Lahia, have implemented a project ensuring food security for 38 female-headed households through the donation 200 chicks along with the essential tools and training required. Nisreen and 37 other women will raise chicks for roasting and laying hens to be included in our Ramadan food package distribution. KinderUSA purchases from the women and will replenish their stock at the close of the month allowing them to sell on the open market to care for their families. With enough support, we can expand this project so that it benefits more families in need, offering them a source of income and dignity throughout the year.
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 services to hospitals, health clinics, sewage and water treatment facilities. Three hospitals and ten medical centers have already suspended services due to lack of fuel impacting 300,000 people. According to the World Bank, “access to improved drinking water sources in Gaza declined to one of the worst in the world today”, further reporting that “96% of the water is not suitable for human consumption”.
The blockade on Gaza, now in its 11th year, prevents people and goods from moving, leaving the population isolated and trapped. In 2017, 54 Gazan’s died awaiting ‘permission’ to receive vital treatment outside.
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