By Daryl Crowden, (Acting) Manager, Field Relations
A year has passed since the end of the war (
Operation Protective Edge) on Gaza. In North Gaza, where Australian supporters like you sponsor over 3,500 children, the scars of destruction that are a result of the bombings and fighting are still an everyday reality for children. During the 50 day war, 551 Gazan children were killed and many more were injured. Over 12,620 homes were completely destroyed and despite the international communities’ promises to Gaza and her people at the 2014 “
Reconstructing Gaza” Conference in Cairo, not one house has been rebuilt yet, with many of those belonging to sponsored children and their families. Too many of our children have suffered the agonising loss of loved ones.
In North Gaza alone three Australian sponsored children were killed in the conflict and most sponsored children needed to relocate, some multiple times, because of the fighting. For those children of six years of age or more, this was the third war they have lived through.
To date, 100,000 Palestinians in Gaza remain displaced, living in dire conditions in schools and shelters with extremely poor conditions and over 300,000 children are still in need of immediate psychosocial support.