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Initiatives Improving Palestinian Children’s Mental Health

Palestinian Children’s Mental HealthAs the war in Palestine continues, Palestinians’ mental health is suffering. At least 10 children lose a limb a day and 17,000 children have been separated from their parents. Additionally, 96% of Palestinian children feel that death is impending. The numerous traumatic events the children undergo at a crucial time for their development have taken a toll. However, there are some vital initiatives in place aiming to tackle and improve Palestinian children’s mental health.

MAP Mental Health Services

Medical Aid for Palestine (MAP) is addressing Gaza’s mental health challenges in collaboration with the health ministry to improve access to mental health services. MAP has set up specific locations within the city to offer psychosocial and clinical support.

MAP also utilizes the close-knit community within Gaza by implementing a peer support model, enabling individuals with lived experience of mental health challenges to offer moral support to others facing similar struggles. This approach perpetuates the belief that everyone can help each other, hopefully bringing hope.

Furthermore, the organization is training its staff in psychological first aid, ensuring that they are prepared to support others and themselves through mental health challenges regardless of their role. This initiative helps ensure that as many people receive such help as possible.

GCMHP

The Gaza Community Mental Health Program (GCMHP), currently led by Dr. Yasser Abu Jamei, provides counseling over the phone. Additionally, they visit shelters and refugee camps to provide therapy. The initiative has clinics in Gaza City, Khan Younis and Deir al Balah, offering a range of services to support patients, including talking therapy, play therapy and occupational therapy.

In 2024, the GCMHP assisted more than 26,000 people in 298 days, offering care and support to individuals and families of all ages. It has also established Psychological First Aid (PFA) teams that visit camps and shelters to reach displaced families. These teams distribute toy bags to children, encouraging them to engage in familiar and enjoyable activities promoting calmness. Additionally, the teams assess whether anyone in these camps requires urgent intervention and ensure they are referred for specialized treatment.

Education and Mental Well-Being

The occupation has led to the destruction of many schools, with approximately 87.7% of educational buildings affected as of March 30, 2024. This disruption has severely impacted Palestinian children’s education and mental health, exacerbated by food, water and electricity shortages, as well as the loss of stability and educational infrastructure.

However, individuals like Israa Abu Mustafa are working to counter these challenges. She established a school for primary-aged children in Khan Younis in September 2024, starting with 35 students and expanding to 70. Despite lacking basic equipment like desks and chairs, the children continue to learn and participate in enjoyable activities. This initiative supports their well-being by restoring normalcy and safety through education.

Summary

The psychological well-being of Palestinian children is deeply impacted. However, several initiatives are offering support by providing mental health services, education and safe spaces, helping children regain a sense of stability and hope.

– Maryam Abdalla

Maryam is based in the UK and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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NGOs Supporting Palestinians Amid Conflict and Hardship

How NGOs Are Supporting Palestinians Amid Conflict and HardshipDecades of conflict and hardship have left millions of Palestinians in need of humanitarian assistance, with 3.3 million requiring aid in Gaza and the West Bank. Amid widespread poverty—nearly half of Palestinian families live below the poverty line—80% of Gazans depend on relief supplies to survive. In response, a network of international and local NGOs are supporting Palestinians by providing life-saving aid, fostering economic resilience and advocating for human rights to support Palestinian communities.

PRCS and the Red Cross

Amid conflict, medical teams and first responders work tirelessly to deliver critical care under fire. The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS), in coordination with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), has been treating the injured and distributing essential supplies despite extreme dangers. By early January 2024, PRCS teams in Gaza had treated about 15,000 injured people while also distributing food, water, blankets and medical supplies to displaced families seeking shelter in hospitals. However, these humanitarian efforts have come at a cost, with ambulances and medical staff frequently coming under attack.

The ICRC has reinforced PRCS’s efforts by delivering relief supplies to more than 1.8 million displaced Gazans and providing cash assistance to more than 110,000 vulnerable individuals. In the West Bank, the ICRC has implemented emergency cash grants for 910 families whose homes were destroyed while also improving water and sanitation systems that benefit many residents. Together, these joint emergency medical efforts have been a lifeline for Palestinian civilians, ensuring that those in the most dire conditions receive critical support.

Healing Hands: International Medical Aid in Gaza

Beyond emergency response teams, international medical NGOs are addressing urgent health care shortages and providing life-saving treatment for Palestinians. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), which has operated in Gaza for decades, continues to provide surgical and burns care despite hospitals sustaining severe damage.

Following an airstrike on a refugee camp in northern Gaza in 2023, MSF teams treated 50 wounded patients in a single day at Al-Awda Hospital. Over the year, MSF provided more than 107,000 outpatient consultations, conducted 3,670 surgeries and led 13,300 mental health sessions for patients recovering from PTSD and war-related trauma.

Similarly, Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) has led one of its biggest humanitarian responses to date. In 2024 alone, MAP provided medical aid and humanitarian support to nearly 1 million Palestinians in Gaza. Working with local hospitals, MAP dispatched dozens of truckloads of medical supplies, including 32 aid trucks since a January 2025 ceasefire. Additionally, emergency medical teams have performed more than 7,593 consultations and 1,587 surgeries for injured civilians.

MAP’s work has also included hospital rehabilitation efforts, setting up new surgical wards and field clinics, while screening 47,000 people for malnutrition to prevent famine. As conflict continues to strain Gaza’s fragile health care system, these NGOs play a crucial role in sustaining life-saving medical operations.

Essential Aid for Displaced Families

Beyond medical care, NGOs are supporting displaced Palestinians by ensuring they receive necessities such as food, clean water and shelter. Save the Children, which has been active in the occupied Palestinian territories since the 1970s, has reached more than 1 million people in Gaza through relief efforts across 50 locations. The organization has distributed drinking water, food parcels, hygiene kits and winter supplies while also establishing Child-Friendly Spaces to support children’s mental health.

Similarly, Oxfam has launched an extensive emergency response, overcoming severe logistical challenges to assist. Since October 2023, Oxfam and its local partners have assisted more than 262,000 people in Gaza, including 120,000 children. Its efforts include:

  • Delivering clean water to 120,000 people through desalination units and latrines
  • Providing food aid to 140,000 individuals, including fresh vegetables from remaining local farms
  • Distributing winter supplies, including blankets and warm clothing, to 42,000 displaced people
  • Supplying cash vouchers, allowing families to buy essentials as needed

Despite ongoing fuel shortages and security threats, these organizations continue to provide vital aid to families facing extreme hardship.

Building Long-Term Resilience

While immediate humanitarian relief is crucial, NGOs are also working to rebuild Palestinian livelihoods by fostering economic resilience. The ICRC has provided cash grants to nearly 2,800 vulnerable individuals in the West Bank, helping sustain livestock and agriculture in rural communities. These grants allow farming families to replace lost animals and continue producing food despite instability.

Oxfam has also been instrumental in supporting Palestinian entrepreneurship. In Gaza, Oxfam-backed programs have helped individuals like Aya Kishko, a carpenter who opened a workshop recycling scrap wood into furniture despite the blockade. With limited raw materials entering Gaza, her business—supported by Oxfam initiatives—not only generates income but also repurposes scarce resources, showcasing NGO-driven resilience efforts. By investing in local businesses and sustainable economic opportunities, these organizations are empowering Palestinians to rebuild their futures despite ongoing challenges.

Balancing Aid and Advocacy

From field hospitals to food distribution centers, the NGOs supporting Palestinians provide a range of humanitarian services to Palestinians facing crisis and recovery efforts. While emergency aid addresses immediate survival needs, development programs focus on supporting livelihoods and long-term stability. However, demand for assistance continues to exceed available resources and aid agencies face operational challenges, including security risks and restricted access. As the situation continues, NGOs play a significant role in addressing humanitarian needs and supporting ongoing recovery efforts.

– Leah Ishak

Leah is based in Exeter, Devon, UK and focuses on Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Protecting People with Disabilities in Gaza

Disabilities in GazaThe ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza has left countless vulnerable, though those with cognitive or physical disabilities face particularly severe risks due to difficulty accessing humanitarian aid. These individuals may encounter separation from primary caregivers, loss of assistive devices and medication, or struggles processing or responding to evacuation orders. For those already living with heightened challenges, the crisis exacerbates these vulnerabilities, requiring targeted interventions to ensure their safety, health and dignity.

Overview

Before October 7, 2023, 21% of Gazan households reported at least one family member with a disability. This population encompasses approximately 441,000 people, with 98,000 being children between the ages of 2 and 17. The humanitarian needs of these individuals are worsened by ongoing violence, as well as blockades that have restricted access to critical resources.

In addition to pre-existing disabilities in Gaza, the escalating conflict has led to a surge in individuals suffering from injuries that result in permanent disabilities. As of July 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that over 22,500 people in Gaza have sustained “life-changing injuries” requiring extensive rehabilitation services, the Human Rights Watch (HRW) reports. These injuries include damage to the peripheral nerve, spinal cord and brain, as well as fractures, burns, and amputation of one or several limbs.

Disabled individuals in Gaza, like those with disabilities worldwide, depend on caregivers or assistive devices to meet their basic needs. Displacement, loss of property and often restricted movement make it increasingly difficult to maintain quality of life.

Organizations Stepping Up

In the face of these challenges, key organizations are working to address the urgent needs of individuals with disabilities in Gaza. These efforts aim to provide critical resources and improve access to humanitarian aid.

In December 2023, Humanity and Inclusion (HI) facilitated the entry of eight trucks loaded with critical aid supplies. Among the delivered items were 300 wheelchairs, 50 wheeled toilets, 250 crutches and 150 crutch tips alongside hygienic supplies, according to the HI website. The organization has been active in the West Bank and Gaza since 1996, working to promote disability inclusion and ensure that disabled individuals are systematically considered in humanitarian efforts.

United Nations Relief Works and Agency (UNWRA) plays a crucial role in promoting disability inclusion, both through direct and indirect services, such as health and rehabilitation services, assistive devices and inclusive education. Its 2023 – 2028 Strategic Plan continuously emphasizes the commitment to programs that meet the needs of persons with disabilities, and between October 7, 2023, and December 9, 2024, UNRWA supported 21,043 disabled persons with Psychosocial Support. Of these individuals, 7,752 received assistive devices and rehabilitation services.

Between October 7, 2023, and November 30, 2024, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) provided pre-prosthetic rehabilitation services to 179 amputation cases, 80 wheelchairs for individuals with double amputations or paralysis, and served 600 people through the support of the Artificial Limbs and Polio Center (ALPC). It also launched the registration and documentation process for those suffering from permanent disability, registering 2,451 individuals into the system.

Looking Ahead

Despite the substantial challenges that remain, continued advocacy and collaboration between international and local organizations offer a pathway to providing alleviation to those with disabilities in Gaza. By ensuring the integration of disability-specific needs into humanitarian response, organizations can help protect the rights and dignity of those most vulnerable.

– Olivia Young

Olivia is based in New York, NY, USA and focuses on Global Health, Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Poverty in Palestine

Poverty in PalestineThe World Bank estimates that half a million jobs have been lost in Gaza since the start of the conflict on October 7, 2023. In mid-2023, the overall poverty rate in Palestine stood at 32.8%, a 3.7% increase from 2017. Today, the World Bank states that nearly every Gazan lives in poverty. Although Israeli occupation and sanctions had already stifled the Palestinian economy, the war on Hamas has plunged Gaza into “utter ruin,” according to a U.N. report. The damage to infrastructure and natural resources, the interruption of education and the loss of life in Gaza mean that it could take 350 years for the strip’s economy to return to its pre-conflict levels.

Despite the fact that 40% of the Gazan population relied on humanitarian aid in 2023, Israel impedes organizations like the WHO and UNRWA from delivering essential assistance. Ilze Brands Kehris, the U.N.’s Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights, stated that “the humanitarian and human rights situation for Palestinian civilians across Gaza is catastrophic” and referenced the “strong likelihood of famine.” Poverty in Palestine is, therefore, extreme and acute.

Blockade and Sanctions

Years of occupation and sanctions had already turned off the Gazan economy. Israeli settlements in the West Bank and Gaza appropriate Palestinian land and natural resources. Whereas Israeli settlements have access to high-quality water, only 10% of Gazans enjoy this human right. Additionally, Israel implemented a 300-meter buffer zone around the border of Gaza, which citizens are not allowed to access or cultivate. This means that Israel, in fact, controls 24% of the territory designated as Gaza.

Israel has exercised complete control over Gaza’s land, sea and air border since the beginning of the “blockade” in 2007. Under these sanctions, Israel has control over how much fuel, electricity, water and aid enters Gaza, as well as who is allowed to enter and exit. There are also reports that Israel engages in systematically spraying herbicide along the “buffer zone,” which is inside the territory of Gaza.

The practice started in 2014, resulting in further damage to the small amount of arable land left to Palestinians living in Gaza. Crosswinds carry the herbicides into Gaza, causing crop destruction miles away from the border buffer zone. Palestinian officials claim that the spraying of herbicides has damaged more than 420 acres of land in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli Defense Force’s (IDF) justification for the spraying is to “enable optimal and continuous security operations.”

Trade Restrictions

Restrictions placed on Palestinian trade by Israel mean that Palestinian goods and services are far less competitive on the market than their Israeli counterparts. The U.N. notes that the average trade cost per transaction for a Palestinian firm is nearly three times higher than for an Israeli firm. Barriers to trade with other countries mean that Palestine is overly reliant on Israel as its sole trading partner.

In 2022, 72% of Palestinian trade was with Israel. These measures imposed by Israel to contain and restrict Palestinian life contribute to the overall impoverishment of Palestinians. The U.N. found that, on average, for every eight cents a Palestinian earns, an Israeli earns $1. Even so, the currency union (the Israeli shekel is widely used in Palestine), customs union and geographical proximity tie living costs in Gaza with those of Israel, a much more advanced economy.

Impact on Education and Employment

Citizens of Gaza are well educated, with a literacy rate of 97.1%, yet the poverty of Palestine due to the occupation by Israel means that qualified professionals are unable to find jobs in Gaza or travel to look for work elsewhere. For instance, Said Lolo is a Palestinian man who holds a bachelor’s degree in public relations. Unable to find a job in Gaza, he is forced to work 14 hours a day selling coffee to support his family of nine. He sleeps at his cafe and only goes home once a week.

Conclusion on Poverty in Palestine

Despite the hostility between the Israeli government and Hamas, there are a number of Israel-based human rights groups. The groups are doing essential work in documenting Israel’s violations and advocating for Palestinian rights. B’Tselem, an Israeli human rights organization, has been working to monitor Israel’s activities for more than 30 years. It takes its name from an allusion to a passage in Genesis, meaning, “And God created humankind in His image. In the image of God did He create them.” The organization takes this reference to symbolize its commitment to “the universal and Jewish moral edict to respect and uphold the human rights of all people,” exemplifying the belief that there is no contradiction between being Israeli and advocating for Palestinian rights.

Adalah, an Arab human rights group based in Israel, focuses on promoting the rights of Arab citizens within Israel. The charity’s legal advocacy has enabled it to defend Bedouin rights to land in Israel and represent Palestinian victims of Israeli violence in court, among many other important victories. Without the advocacy of rights groups like these, Palestinians in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza would receive little visibility. It’s thanks to their work in advocating and documenting Israeli violations that the international community is apprised of the situation. These groups are essential in laying the groundwork for Palestinian representation that could lead one day to full Palestinian sovereignty.

– Io Oswald

Io is based in Paris, France and focuses on Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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Obstacles Following the Ceasefire in Lebanon

Ceasefire in LebanonThe conflict in Gaza, which started in October 2023, has left 44,000 Palestinians dead, as of November 2024. Lebanon became entangled in the conflict when the “Iran-aligned Shia militant and political group,” Hezbollah, started firing rockets into northern Israel in response to the war in Gaza. Since Lebanon has been involved in the conflict, Israel has been launching devastating attacks on the country, along with a ground invasion in southern Lebanon; UNHCR estimates that about 1.2 million Lebanese have been displaced and about 3,700 Lebanese people have been killed since the beginning of the conflict. Yet, As the war in Gaza rages on, there has been a very recent and tentative ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon. With this ceasefire, many displaced Lebanese are returning home. This article will explore the obstacles following the ceasefire in Lebanon

Issues with Health Care

Because of the conflict, Lebanon’s health care system has been exhausted to an extreme degree. Also, Israeli attacks affected health care facilities in very high proportions. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that the crisis has affected “one in 10 hospitals in Lebanon” and “63% of incidents in Lebanon..impacted health personnel.”

Now, Lebanese people are trying to return home, and the health care system will not be able to support them unless it gets more resources. Rabih Torbay, CEO of Project Hope, says, “The priority must be to replenish stocks of medicines, reestablish clinics, and ensure emergency care is available.” After destroying many health care facilities, people naturally flock to safer areas, which become overcrowded and have limited resources.

Torbay says Lebanese Mayors are asking for medical assistance even over food and water. They pointed out that people with diseases or serious injuries have nowhere to go and will likely die.

Project Hope

Luckily, organizations like Project Hope are assisting Lebanon during this crisis. Project Hope is a humanitarian and health organization founded in 1958 that helps countries across the globe. They provide urgent relief in times of disaster. It delivers medicine, offers psychological first aid, secures water, partners with local experts and more.

Along with a lack of basic medical needs, displaced Lebanese people are suffering from trauma and a lack of appropriate hygienic materials. Project Hope “field assessments have revealed an increasing need for mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS), particularly among children.” As a result, “Project HOPE has distributed 1,700 hygiene kits and other essential dignity and non-food items to IDPs in 10 schools across the Mount Lebanon area.” It hs provided “emergency trauma supplies” also.

The nation not only needs supplies, but they need medical centers themselves. “Project Hope is establishing two mobile medical units staffed by specialized local doctors and nurses.” This organization is tackling some of the greatest obstacles following the ceasefire in Lebanon.

Destruction and Danger Zones

With the very recent ceasefire agreement, thousands of displaced Lebanese head home. Despite the horrific crisis, there have been a few celebrations; the ceasefire has brought some relief to the Lebanese people as many of them return to villages in the south. However, this excitement is stunted by the immense destruction throughout the nation. The attacks have completely destroyed some communities and many people do not have much of a home to return to. Destruction of infrastructure is another one of the obstacles following the ceasefire.

In addition to the destruction, some areas on the border are unsafe. Although the ceasefire requires the Israeli army to leave, Israel sent out a message saying that there are 10 border villages where people are “prohibited” from going, even if they are “residents” of the area. This situation has led to confrontations that have left Lebanese people and journalists with injuries as they confront Israeli tanks and soldiers. Israeli soldiers and tanks have fired on people in these areas, claiming people entering the area are “violating the conditions of this ceasefire,” reports NPR.

Save the Children

Save the Children is another organization assisting Lebanon. The organization reports that it has “supported 166,000 people in Lebanon, including more than 67,000 children.” Even more, it provides safe shelters to help families with no homes to go back to.

Save the Child reports that there are “1.5 million children in Lebanon out of education.” This reality is only adding to the already traumatic experience. However, charities like Project Hope and Save the Children are working to provide as much support as they can.  Save the Children reports that they are “working with local partners and government authorities” to help children and families as they begin to rebuild.

Though people are skeptical that the ceasefire in Lebanon will last, many see it as an important and hopeful step for Lebanon. Despite obstacles following the ceasefire, Lebanon keeps moving forward and works to reconstruct.

– Michael Messina

Michael is based in Newburyport, MA, USA and focuses on Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Save The Children Supporting Communities in Gaza

Supporting Communities in Gaza​​Gaza has a population of 2.3 million and is one of the “most densely populated” regions in the world. Hamas, a Palestinian nationalist organization, has been governing Gaza since 2006. Tensions between Hamas and Israel have led to a cycle of violence and governance challenges in Gaza. On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched an attack on Israel, and both sides have since engaged in heavy fighting. This conflict has led to widespread civilian casualties and created a humanitarian crisis. Children in Gaza are facing displacement, famine, disease and many other life-threatening challenges. Aid organizations are facing many security issues. This article outlines how Save The Children is supporting communities in Gaza.

Supporting Communities in Gaza

Save The Children has been present in Gaza since 1973 and has been particularly prominent in the territory since October 7, 2023. There is growing demand for humanitarian aid but is hard to provide without a ceasefire. Despite this, Save The Children works tirelessly to provide aid to as many people as possible. Over the past year, Save The Children has reached more than 688,000 people and focuses on helping children in Gaza.

Nutrition Services

Malnutrition is widespread in Gaza and can lead to diminished health in children. Save The Children offers nutritional services to support the children of Gaza. It screens children and adults for malnutrition, especially targeting children under 5. This allows them to give the best treatment and chance of survival. The organization distributes food to as many regions as possible despite the security risks imposed by the conflict. They provide mothers with breastfeeding advice, promoting and supporting best breastfeeding practices. Save The Children also provides nutritional education to families and community workers to promote balanced meals to improve children’s health.

Physical Health Services

Save The Children works to provide physical health support to children. It distributes vaccinations to prevent the spread of life-threatening diseases, such as polio. It ensures that many children receive clean water and sanitation resources, such as essential toiletries and household utilities. The organization has built a maternity unit to ensure mothers have a safe environment in which to deliver their babies. A paediatric center has also been developed to treat children suffering from injuries such as burns caused by conflicts.

Tima, a Gazan citizen, found out she was pregnant in July 2023. In October 2023, Tima was afraid for the delivery and safety of her baby. Save The Children’s emergency maternity unit provided Tima with a safe place to give birth. In April 2024, Tima gave birth to baby Lana. Lana was born healthy but after a few days out of hospital, living in unsanitary conditions, Lana became unwell with sepsis. Save The Children gave Lana the antibiotic treatment she needed to survive.

Mental Health and Shelter Services

Save The Children provides mental health services to children who have suffered violence, displacement and trauma. It has built safe environments for those facing displacement from their homes and families. The organization has also developed temporary educational units to facilitate ongoing learning during the conflict, according to its website.

Save The Children has provided resources for temporary shelters for those facing displacement. It has supplied families with cash to purchase essential basics and build a more liveable shelter. Resources such as sanitation and hygiene kits have helped families to develop safer living environments, according to its website.

Looking Ahead

Save The Children is desperately seeking a ceasefire to be able to deliver aid more safely. However, such organizations face continual risk from the conflict, making it more difficult to reach people in need. Once aid is more readily available, future strategies have been developed to assist Gaza’s children further. The organization hopes to provide more permanent infrastructures for hospitals and educational units, distribute water storage tanks for longer-lasting sanitation and build more resilient shelters for displaced families.

– Millie Trussler

Millie is based in London, UK and focuses on Global Health and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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How Award-Winning Authors Are Showing Support for Palestine

Support for PalestineThe relentless brutality of Israeli forces has reduced Gaza to a state of extreme humanitarian crisis. Catherine Russell, executive director of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), reports that “the entire Palestinian population in northern Gaza is at imminent risk of dying from disease, famine or ongoing bombardments by the Israeli military.”

With no sign of an end in sight and access to aid severely restricted, global support for Palestinians is crucial for encouraging leaders of the most powerful nations to act in every way they can to see this reality of horror come to an end. One thousand acclaimed publishing professionals and authors, including the author of “Normal People,” Sally Rooney, have demonstrated their stance of support for Palestine by signing a letter that pledges to boycott Israeli cultural institutions.

The Situation in Gaza

Palestinian rights are increasingly violated day by day as the conflict continues to escalate. Since the conflict began on 7 October 2023, more than 40,000 lives have been lost and a minimum of 97,000 civilians have been injured in Gaza. Intern physician Dr. Amira Qadeeh spoke with The New Humanitarian about the devastating impact of the conflict on those living through this nightmare.

Qadeeh expresses: “Before, I was in the safety and comfort of my home, leading a quiet life … and doing all the things that are normal for any human being. Now we need a miracle to get clean drinking water, enough healthy food, a blanket that warms us in the bitter cold and above all, safe shelter.” Urgent continued support for Palestine is crucial for the restoration of livelihood; however, with many companies, countries and institutions still profiting off this crisis, we are witnessing complicity that actively enables the bloodshed to persist.

Support for Palestine From Book Industry Figures

Rooney, Arundhati Roy and Rachel Kushner are just a few names among more than 1,000 signatories of the pledge to boycott Israeli cultural institutions that “are complicit or have remained silent observers of the overwhelming oppression of Palestinians.” Organized by the Palestine Festival of Literature, the boycott recognizes the existence of institutions profiting from others’ suffering. All those in favor of this campaign express that they will refuse to work with any Israeli publishers, festivals, literary agencies and publications that are complicit in the violation of Palestinian rights.

This also includes those operating “discriminatory policies and practices” or “whitewashing and justifying Israel’s occupation, apartheid or genocide.” Among others, Rooney’s support for Palestine has been unwavering, demonstrated through her history of openly advocating for Palestinian rights and refusing to “sell the Hebrew translation rights of her third novel, “Beautiful World, Where Are You,” to an Israeli publisher in 2021. 

The impact of well-known and loved book industry figures such as Rooney using their influence to speak out about the situation in Gaza, as well as calling for the boycott of institutions, is invaluable for generating as much public support for Palestinian rights as possible. Moreover, this high-profile boycott has the power to influence others and highlight companies and institutions that capitalize on the conflict in Gaza.

– Imogen Prince

Imogen is based in Oxford, UK and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Organizations Providing Aid to Palestine

Aid to PalestineCivilians in Palestine are facing horrific living conditions, lacking adequate housing, food and sanitation. In both the West Bank and Gaza Strip, many Palestinians are struggling with housing shortages, contaminated drinking water, minimal electricity, scarce food supplies and limited medical resources. In hopes of supporting the suffering Palestinians, many nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) are providing aid to Palestine by fundraising and transporting necessary resources. These nonprofits include Islamic Relief, Palestine Children’s Relief Fund and U.N. organizations.

Islamic Relief

Islamic Relief is dedicated to assisting the world’s most vulnerable populations. Founded in 1984 by Hany El-Banna in response to the famine in East Africa, the organization mobilized the Muslim community to support those in need, securing more than $176,000 to fund various poverty-reduction projects. From then on, the organization grew to support many other disadvantaged groups.

Today, it has lifted more than a billion people out of poverty, contributed to the increase in life expectancy and expanded access to education. Islamic Relief is currently partnering with organizations to provide aid to those in Gaza, offering hot meals, clean water, recreational activities and an orphan sponsorship program.

The Palestine Children’s Relief Fund

The Palestine Children’s Relief Fund (PCRF) is a key organization delivering aid to civilians in Gaza and the West Bank. Founded in 1991 by humanitarians in the USA, PCRF focuses on providing health care to ill and injured children who lack access to local medical services. Since its inception, the organization has sent more than 2,000 children abroad for specialized medical care. It has also provided international doctors and nurses to local hospitals at no cost.

UN Organizations

U.N. organizations, such as the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), also provide aid to the Palestinian people. In Gaza, UNICEF is on the ground, distributing clean water and administering essential vaccines. The organization focuses on the suffering of children in Palestine while advocating for an immediate ceasefire and ensuring the protection and access to resources for all children.

Additionally, UNRWA provides Palestinian families with support services, such as food, water, cash assistance, education and health care. While both U.N. organizations were initially skeptical about the dire situations faced by these disadvantaged groups, rising injury and death tolls, along with the destruction of essential infrastructure, have demonstrated the extreme vulnerability of the Palestinian people and their urgent need for assistance.

Final Note

While the humanitarian crisis in Palestine persists, numerous nonprofit organizations are successfully providing aid to the people of Gaza. Much of this success is due to the countless individuals who recognize the importance of humanitarian efforts in preventing the destruction of a vulnerable population and restoring hope for a better future.

– Sophia Kharal

Sophia is based in San Jose, CA, USA and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pixabay

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Poliovirus Outbreak in Gaza

poliovirus outbreak in gazaAfter 25 years, children in Gaza are experiencing a poliovirus outbreak. Health officials have stated that there are links between the virus in Egypt and the poliovirus outbreak in Gaza, which is currently experiencing an outbreak in the middle of the war. The United Nations and local health officials launched a vaccination campaign in September 2024, hoping to reach as many children as possible. “The World Health Organization (WHO) has said Israel agreed to limited pauses in the fighting to facilitate the campaign,” AP News reports.

Background

Polio’s infection spreads quickly and painfully, especially in contaminated situations and conditions. It transmits from person to person, especially in contaminated water. Due to the war in Gaza, the water supply has been tainted with and contaminated with excrement. The Israeli army devastated the water supply and the wastewater disposal networks throughout the entirety of the Palestinian territory, according to Al Jazeera. This causes the wastewater to reach hundreds to thousands of civilian homes, forcing them to move to safer and healthier conditions.

“According to the Government Media Office in Gaza, the Israeli army has also stopped transferring the waste away from civilian areas by imposing control over waste dumps and targeting municipality workers, machinery and mechanisms in place to manage waste,” said Al Jazeera.

Cases of Polio in Gaza

Gaza reported one case of the polio virus in September 2024. The case is of a 10-month-old little boy, who is now paralyzed in both his legs, according to AP News. One confirmed case of polio leads to a few more suspected cases of polio, which leads to an outbreak of poliovirus in Gaza. According to Dr Majdi Duhair, scientifically speaking, one confirmed case of polio is an outbreak. One case of the polio virus can lead to at least 200 more infected people with no symptoms, NPR reports.

“Authorities plan to vaccinate children in central Gaza until Wednesday before moving on to the more devastated northern and southern parts of the strip,” AP News reports.

The Poliovirus Campaign

The poliovirus affects children under the age of 5 and affects the unvaccinated. Since the discovery of the poliovirus in July 2024, the campaign fighting the poliovirus outbreak in Gaza has received support from WHO, UNICEF, UNRWA and the Ministry of Health in Gaza. The campaign has about 2,700 health workers moving to different parts of Gaza throughout September. The first round of polio vaccinations began at the end of August and only covered a few children. According to Al Jazeera, the campaign aims to give oral polio vaccine drops to 640,000 children under 10.

“But we know from our experience in so many places that we have to implement at least two large-scale vaccination campaigns with the novel oral polio vaccine type two that achieves high levels of coverage to stop transmission,” said Hamid Jafari from CSIS.

Outbreak During a War

On August 16, 2024, U.N. Secretary-General Guterres called for a seven-day cease-fire. The cease-fire was to allow the campaign to safely move around Gaza during the poliovirus outbreak, looking for families with children under 10 years old to administer the oral vaccine. According to NPR, reaching all the families in Gaza is difficult. The war has moved people out of their homes, making them move to find a safe haven every hour. The campaign’s goal is to reach 90% of the children in Gaza. Since the territory is extensive and vulnerable, the campaign has more than 200 teams going around the entire territory to eradicate the disease.

“We go from shelter to shelter and tent to tent. People are literally everywhere. In the middle of the street, you have people living by the beach. So the idea is to reach every child wherever they are,” said Juliette Touma for NPR.

Conclusion

The poliovirus outbreak in Gaza is a result of the conditions Gaza is under because of the war. The ceasefire allowed for 558,963 children under 10 to receive oral drops of the vaccine. The goal of the 12-day campaign was to reach 640,000 children, but that was difficult since families were scattered all over Gaza on the streets, in tents, shelters, etc. because of the war. But each day health officials are reaching more families with their teams and area planning. According to Dr Richard Peeperkorn from the WHO, the campaign is a symbol or a show of the possibilities of peace in the world if given a chance to act.

– Ashley Diaz

Ashley is based in Homestead, FL, USA and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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Collective Action to Fight Poverty in Gaza

Poverty in GazaThe events of October 2024 have heightened the plights and struggles of those who call the Gaza Strip and the West Bank home. The conflict has left millions of people in Gaza struggling with poverty and unable to access basic necessities. According to Martin Griffiths, the United Nations’ (U.N.) humanitarian chief, the continuing violence has made delivering aid to the area nearly impossible.

For more than 30 years, the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign (PSC) has been at the forefront of the U.K. movement for Palestinian rights. As a grassroots organization, it is involved in lobbying politicians, challenging government policy and holding the media to account. The Borgen Project spoke to its Student and Young People Officer, Stella Swain, to discuss the importance of the organization’s grassroots methods when it comes to drawing attention to the struggle in Palestine.

Poverty and Struggle in Gaza

It is estimated that nine in every 10 people in Gaza have been displaced internally due to the conflict. Half of these people are children, many of whom have lost their families on top of their homes. In addition, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, more than 14,000 children have already been killed in the violence.

Furthermore, famine has long been looming in Gaza. As a result of the continual displacement, violence and restrictions placed on aid, organizations like Save the Children estimate that 96% of the population in Gaza is facing severe food shortages. As of May of this year, close to half a million jobs had been lost from the Palestinian economy since October 2023. This drop includes an estimated loss of 200,000 jobs in the Gaza Strip, 114,000 jobs in the West Bank and 148,000 cross-border commuters from the West Bank to the Israeli labor market.

This massive drop in employment and job opportunities has led to an unprecedented increase in poverty across the country. The overall poverty rate of Palestinians stood at 32.8% in mid-2023 – around 64% in Gaza and 12% in the West Bank. However, as of present, nearly every single Gazan lives in poverty due to the destruction caused by the ongoing conflict.

Young People at the Forefront

Students have long led campaigns and protests that have shaped the world, including the movement against the Vietnam War and the fight to end apartheid in South Africa. Protests calling for an end to the conflict in Gaza are no different. More and more student encampments are being set up around the world as students and other young people demand that universities and governments acknowledge the violence in Gaza and its impacts on the civilians in the area. 

Swain stated that student organizing had shown universities that “the vast majority of their student body care deeply about where their institutions’ money is going and that they are determined that these institutions should enact their alleged ethos of global responsibility.”

Grassroots organizations, such as the PSC and The Borgen Project, mobilize the power of the people to bring about significant cultural, political and environmental change. Ben Jamal, the director of the PSC, emphasized the importance of public support at the organization’s Divest for Palestine Conference. He stated that their “longer-term and enduring task is to harness the energy of this extraordinary movement of solidarity and resistance into sustained campaigns to achieve the change needed” to end the violence and secure support and aid for the Palestinian people.

Looking Forward

The work of the PSC is a reminder of the importance of citizens coming together to hold their elected officials to account. The organization is working to bring the struggles of Palestinians to the forefront of the minds of powerful politicians who can provide aid and support. Grassroot organizations like PSC stand as proof of the importance of collective action to change the lives of those struggling in poverty.

– Kristina Grant

Kristina is based in Scotland and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.

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