Children are especially vulnerable when disaster and conflict strike. Protecting children and families is at the heart of our emergency work. We ensure those at risk get the support and care needed to rebuild their lives and strengthen their communities.

Families in the West Bank and Gaza Strip suffer from difficult economic, living and psychosocial conditions due to the ongoing blockade and the difficult economic situation. Sometimes, our humanitarian response requires immediate support to secure initial food supplies and basic life needs, such as distributing aid baskets. Also, psychosocial support is essential in responding to emergencies affecting children and families affected by conflicts and disasters. Families and children participate in psychosocial support sessions that reduce stress levels, trauma and fear among children and parents alike, enabling them to recover together as a family.

Through our emergency aid in Gaza during the war that began in October 2023, we have already reached more than 20,000 children and adults. Our interventions have included:

Providing basic needs for families: We have worked to support families financially, giving them access to essential survival needs, such as food, water, medicines for children and the sick, and hygiene supplies.

Psychosocial support: Children in Gaza are severely affected by the loss of caregivers (either their mother or father), violence, the loss of their homes, and the death of relatives, in addition to the traumatic experiences of war. Specialists in our team support children and their families by addressing trauma and helping them survive. We have supported more than 2,000 people from over 300 families through group and individual counseling sessions.

Recreational activities: Free and recreational activities allow children to experience moments of childhood joy, away from the tragic circumstances of war, and give them time to be themselves and adapt to their new reality.

Receiving unaccompanied and separated children: We host children who are unaccompanied or separated from their parents and provide them with the necessary care, support, and protection. In many cases, we have successfully reunited children with their families.