The cause
“The Minister of Education told us that the exam results at the schools are falling since the most recent Israeli offensive. Even worse, we were told by psychiatrists that children now routinely ask when they will die… The future of the region depends on the next generation of Palestinians, yet they are being severely damaged as each day passes under siege…” Gerald Kaufman, British MP
During Israel’s war on Gaza in 2009, the population of Gaza suffered relentless aerial and ground attacks. During this offensive:
- Over 1,400 Palestinians were killed, 400 of them children
- Hospitals, UN schools and shelters were targeted
- 21,000 homes were destroyed, leaving over 90,000 people homeless
The situation has been deteriorating since the Israeli blockade on Gaza began in 2007:
- Construction materials are banned from entering the Gaza strip, making it nearly impossible to rebuild any homes, hospitals, or schools.
- Hospitals are suffering from a severe shortage of medical supplies. In February 2010, it was reported that 104 essential drugs – including treatments for cancer, heart conditions, and psychiatric disorders – had run out due to the Israeli blockade on Gaza.
- The blockade on educational materials and the lack of school space amidst a growing population has resulted in a deterioration in the standard of education in Gaza schools.
The Welfare Association is a UK registered charity established in 1993 to support the most vulnerable Palestinian communities with sustainable development programmes and emergency aid. The Welfare Association works with Palestinian communities in Gaza, the West Bank, and in refugee camps in Lebanon.
One of the Welfare’s main areas of action is education, including early childhood development in Gaza. The Welfare aims to provide the children of Gaza with some hope of a bright future by creating partnerships with local organisations in Gaza whose work focuses on early childhood development.