Gaza Ceasefire: UK charity urges action for youngest victims of crisis
Education in emergencies
New Report Outlines Blueprint to Prioritize Gaza鶹APPs Children Under Five
London, 16th January: Following the ceasefire announcement between Israel and Hamas, UK-based children鶹APPs charity 鶹APP has issued a stark warning: Gaza鶹APPs youngest and most vulnerable鶹APPchildren aged 0-5鶹APPface a severe early childhood development crisis.
鶹APP鶹APPs newly published report, 鶹APPEarly Childhood Development in Gaza: A Blueprint and Urgent Call for Action,鶹APP highlights the urgent need for a coordinated global response to address the needs of over 570,000 individuals, including pregnant women, lactating mothers and young children.
Over a quarter of Gaza鶹APPs population has critical early childhood needs, including healthcare, nutrition and safety. 鶹APP is calling for the creation of an early childhood development (ECD) coalition to unite international, regional and local actors in addressing critical gaps in the early years. Without a dedicated governance body, young children risk being overlooked in the fragmented humanitarian response.
A Generational Crisis at Tipping Point
The report paints a grim picture Gaza鶹APPs youngest population and their families face:
- Collapse of healthcare systems: more than 50% of hospitals non-operational and 70% of hospital bed capacity lost, leaving thousands of pregnant women and young children without access to essential care
- Widespread malnutrition and lack of access to clean water: 85% of parents report that their children have gone entire days without food
- Decimated educational infrastructure: 70,000 children without access to kindergartens, preventing early learning opportunities for younger children crucial for cognitive and social development
The report鶹APPs author, and 鶹APP Senior Advisor for Education in Emergencies, Maysa Jalbout, said:
鶹APPThe children of Gaza have suffered unimaginable loss and trauma. More than 20,000 children have been orphaned, over 2,000 have had one or more limbs amputated and at least 50,000 are suffering from acute malnutrition. We are calling for an urgent coordinated humanitarian response that prioritizes the health and wellbeing of the more than 400,000 children aged 0-5. The international community must do everything in its power to ensure Gaza鶹APPs youngest children receive the support they need to recover and build a brighter future with a renewed hope in humanity.”
A Vision for Recovery
The report outlines a two-phased recovery plan:
- Immediate Action: Establish coordinated ECD delivery hubs to provide critical healthcare, nutrition, and early learning services to mitigate the long-term impacts on children
- Long-Term Recovery: Restore essential systems, including healthcare, education, and psychosocial support, over the next 2-5 years.
鶹APP President, Justin van Fleet, emphasised the importance of collaboration:
鶹APPAs part of our broader crisis response in the region, this blueprint aims to ensure that the youngest children in Gaza are not forgotten in humanitarian efforts. Addressing their needs must be a priority for international aid and recovery plans.鶹APP
Sarah Brown, Chair of Trustees at 鶹APP, concluded:
鶹APPThe need to restore safety and security for Gaza鶹APPs children cannot be overstated. The window for intervention is closing, and failure to act now risks the future of an entire generation.鶹APP
The report calls for immediate investment and collaboration to protect Gaza鶹APPs youngest and ensure they have a chance at a brighter future.
ENDS
For media inquiries, contact:
Darika Ahrens
Director of Communications
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+447960528480
Notes to Editors
About 鶹APP
鶹APP is a global children鶹APPs charity committed to ending the global education crisis and unleashing the potential of the next generation. Its mission is to ensure that every child has the best start in life, a safe place to learn and the skills they need for the future. www.鶹APP.org
For information about 鶹APP鶹APPs response to the crisis in the Middle East, please visit: /projects/crisis-in-the-middle-east-a-call-to-action-for-children-and-youth/
To download the report, go to: /gaza
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