Tens of thousands of children in Gaza remain at serious risk of physical and psychological harm more than two months after a cease-fire ended the 22-day conflict that began on Dec. 27, 2008, Save the Children reported today.
"Many children in Gaza are trying to survive in neighborhoods that have been reduced to rubble," said Annie Foster, who is leading Save the Children's humanitarian response in Gaza.
"Children are going to sleep hungry every night, often with no bed to sleep on. Many are not able to get a decent meal or bathe properly or even have access to clean drinking water. The plight of these children is drifting off the world's radar screen at a time when they need our help now more than ever.
"The biggest obstacle to helping these children is our limited access to provide critical materials for relief and reconstruction," said Foster. "During the past month, there has been virtually no progress in improving access for humanitarian agencies.
"We are calling for full access and an end to the 19-month embargo so that the recovery and reconstruction efforts can proceed," Foster said.
Despite enormous obstacles, Save the Children continues to work in Gaza, assisting more than 100,000 individuals, including 56,000 children. The agency has provided tens of thousands of children with food and water, basic hygiene materials such as soap, tooth paste and tooth brushes, as well as diapers, baby cribs, clothes and shoes.
Save the Children's health team sees approximately 60 patients a day, with a special focus on improving the health of pregnant women and children under 5. Hundreds of children have been screened for infectious and communicable diseases. The agency also has installed household water tanks and replaced main water pipelines in several Gaza neighborhoods, but work has been slowed due to a severe shortage of materials.
To help protect children, Save the Children has created 23 child friendly spaces serving over 1,200 children every week. The agency also has provided training to adults to help manage the programs and is expanding its work to assist preschool-aged children.
Save the Children also plans to support immediate livelihood needs with direct financial support to families through direct cash grants and financial support programs.
Save the Children has worked in Gaza and the West Bank for more than 30 years.
DONATE NOW
Save the Children needs your support to help us meet the most critical needs of children and families in Gaza. Your donation will help us provide drinking water, improved sanitation, food distribution and other necessities.
Save the Children is the leading, independent organization creating lasting change for children in need in the United States and around the world. For more than 75 years, Save the Children has been helping children survive and thrive by improving their health, education and economic opportunities and, in times of acute crisis, mobilizing lifesaving assistance to help children recover from the effects of war, conflict and natural disasters. For more information, visit: www.savethechildren.org
