Gaza: Help for children urgently needed

The situation in the Middle East continues to escalate. One of the heaviest humanitarian crises of our time takes place in the Gaza Strip. So far, ongoing fighting has forced at least 1.9 million people to flee. Many were driven repeatedly, some ten times or more often. The attack by the terrorist organization Hamas on Israel on October 7, 2023, in which 1,182 people were killed and 251 hostage was delayed , triggered a spiral of violence.

People only reach relief goods inadequate. The auxiliary distribution points, which were in operation throughout the Gaza Strip during the temporary ceasefire, were replaced by four militarily controlled distribution points. Thousands of people are forced to go into overcrowded, militarized zones - in the hope of at least getting some food. But even there they are not certain: if you try to reach relief goods, you risk your life under heavy shelling. There is no safe distribution of relief goods.

The entire population is affected by a serious hunger crisis. The situation of the children is particularly alarming: the United Nations and the World Food Program (WFP) warn that over 70,000 children and over 17,000 mothers urgently need to be treated for acute malnutrition . The destruction of the infrastructure tightens the crisis. Around 70 percent of the water infrastructure, including desalination systems and pipelines, were destroyed. In the most affected areas such as Nord-Gaza and Rafah, less than seven percent of the amounts of water available before the conflict are available.

Terre Des Hommes together with her alliance partner Medico International and the local partner organizations, provides vital help.

Your donation for children

Our auxiliary measures

The "Al-Sard for Agricultural Development" organization provides mobile sanitary facilities and ensures the maintenance and power supply of fountains in the displaced. Clean drinking water and functioning sanitary facilities are crucial to protect children and families. In addition, we already promoted the work of the Palestinian Medical Relief Society (PMRS) and Mayasem Association, which provide medical help and fight for people under difficult conditions.

In the shadow of the war, violent attacks by Israeli settlers in Palestinian and expropriation of Palestinian living space increased in the shade of the war both in the Israeli west of Jordanland and in East Jerusalem. Together with our sister organization Terre Des Hommes Italy, which has been supporting Palestinian children and adolescents for over 20 years, we promote kindergartens in East Jerusalem to create educational opportunities and to secure the development of the children.

questions and answers

Our help in the Gaza Strip continues under difficult conditions. We answer all questions about the use of your donation here:

The situation in Gaza is dramatically unique in the world. The Israeli warfare, including the forced relocations and the concentration of the population of Gaza in ever smaller areas, significantly complicates the care of the civilian population. With the establishment of the private foundation »Gaza Humanitrian Foundation« supported by the USA and Israel, the United Nations (VN) supply system, established for decades, is avoided in Gaza. According to the United Nations, several hundred people have been killed by fire and thousands have been killed since the Foundation was commissioned.

International humanitarian organizations and the United Nations call for the return to the well -established distribution system under the leadership of the UN. So far, the international community has mostly reacted with appeals and limited sanctions, which, however, do not adequately address the underlying system of the crew and displacement. Humanitarian aid alone cannot solve the structural causes of humanitarian disaster. The continued blockade and military violence prevent a sustainable improvement in living conditions in Gaza.

Terre Des Hommes works in an alliance with Medico International with local partner organizations in Gaza. The local organizations provide the population as well as possible. Many employees on site are affected by war and fight - like the rest of the population - for their own survival and that of their fellow human beings.

The circumstances on site can vary and change at any time at any time. The shelling and displacement have been everyday for people for almost two years. Accordingly, aid measures must be adapted again and again and sometimes limited to a limited extent.

Our alliance partner Medico International has its own office on site and has been working with local Palestinian and Israeli non -governmental organizations for many years. These have the logistical capacities, the knowledge and the operational range to effectively provide help. The long -term relationships with the local partners enable transparent and trusting cooperation.

Terre Des Hommes has already supported a large number of aid measures. This includes medical help, the structure of a soup kitchen and sanitary facilities. The expansion of the measures is checked together with the partner organizations. However, the implementation of the measures depends on the current security situation.

Terre Des Hommes also supports children and families in West Bank, East Jerusalem, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Jordan. The war in Gaza is not an isolated event, but closely interwoven with regional developments and historical conditions. We continue to observe the location on site and are in close exchange with Medico International and the partner organizations.

Yes, Terre Des Hommes projects are also affected by fighting. In the case of air strikes of the Israeli army, for example, two tent halls of the Palestinian organization Mayasem Association in al-Qarara were completely destroyed in southern Gaza Strip. A soup kitchen and a school were housed in the tent halls - facilities that were financed with the support of Terre Des Hommes .

Terre Des Hommes rudes the attacks on our partner organization and the destruction of humanitarian infrastructure. Our solidarity applies to employees in our projects who risk their lives every day to help people.

Our demands

As a child rights organization, we are at the side of all children worldwide and are committed to compliance with child rights and humanitarian international law. We therefore demand:

Permanent opening of the border crossings in order to bring humanitarian aid safely and effectively to the Gaza Strip.
A permanent ceasefire to prevent further suffering and losses, especially for the children.
Specific action by the German Federal Government and the International Community to ensure basic care and medical help in the Gaza Strip.
Immediate stop German arms exports to Israel, which are associated with risks for further human rights violations and war crimes in the Gaza Strip
Long-term investments in the reconstruction of the destroyed infrastructure, especially in the area of water and health care.

It is crucial that the international community - and with it the German federal government - asserts its influence and takes concrete measures to stop violence and dying in Gaza and to immediately improve the emergency of the population in the Gaza Strip.

Terre Des Hommes is committed to Medico International together with our partners for people in Gaza.

Support the children and their families with a donation!

Petition "For a just peace"

In the alliance with other organizations Terre Des Hommes is committed to just peace. The escalation of violence must have an end and further suffering must be prevented. Support our petition with your signature:

To the petition