Early Childhood Development in Gaza: A Blueprint and Urgent Call for Action
Early Childhood Development in Gaza: A Blueprint and Urgent Call for Action
About the report
The global children鶹APPs charity 鶹APP has called for the establishment of an early childhood development (ECD) coalition 鶹APPa unified alliance of international, regional, and local actors 鶹APPto champion the early years in Gaza.
The blueprint is detailed in a report, 鶹APPEarly Childhood Development in Gaza: A Blueprint and Urgent Call for Action,鶹APP outlining the needs to shape and coordinate a comprehensive response plan, facilitating resource mobilization with partners, and advocating for urgent and collective action.
The report highlights how the early childhood development crisis has reached a catastrophic tipping point in the region, threatening the survival and future of its most vulnerable population鶹APPpregnant women, lactating mothers, and children between the ages of 0 and 5 years old.
Since the start of the conflict, the collapse of essential healthcare, nutrition, education, and safety systems have left over 570,000 individuals鶹APPmore than 25% of Gaza鶹APPs population鶹APPfacing severe ECD-related challenges. The immediate physical, emotional, and cognitive development of these children is under threat, and their long-term futures are at grave risk.
The report is authored by 鶹APP Senior Advisory for Education in Emergencies, Maysa Jalbout, and outlines 20 focus areas for interventions across healthcare, nutrition, responsive caregiving, security and safety, and early learning.
The blueprint calls for critical ECD services to be introduced as early as possible to mitigate the long-term impact on children starting through series of coordinated ECD delivery hubs for children and caregivers across the region. The recovery phase, spanning two to five years post-ceasefire, should then focus on restoring essential ECD services and laying the foundations for sustainable recovery by rebuilding health systems, education, and psychosocial support.
The Gaza report is part of our regional response to support children affected by crises in the Middle East.