Gaza Children’s Education, Mental Health Targeted with Emergency Grant — Global Issues
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JOHANNESBURG, Aug 08 (IPS) – As of October 2023, 625,000 children enrolled in schools across Gaza were unable to receive an education, and more than 370 schools were damaged by attacks, according to the United Nations.
Now, in support of efforts to provide girls and boys with access to quality educational opportunities and mental health services, Education Cannot Wait (ECW) announced today a USD 2 million First Emergency Grant in Gaza.
“The 2.2 million Palestinians in Gaza are in the midst of a huge humanitarian crisis, facing brutal conditions. There is violence unprecedented in modern times, hunger, famine and disease. Despair and deprivation have led to a complete breakdown of the lives of children and young people. ,” Yasmine Sherif, Executive Director of Cannot Education Wait, the Global Fund for Education in Emergencies and Protracted Crises at the United Nations, said when announcing the 12-month grant.
The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), which aims to improve educational conditions for children and youth in Gaza, will deliver a grant for its better education program in Palestine.
“Today, we call on world leaders to support diplomatic efforts to ensure the unconditional release of all current hostages, to create a lasting humanitarian peace, to provide safe and unimpeded humanitarian access, to ensure full adherence to international humanitarian law by all parties involved in the conflict, and the realization of a political solution and peace,” said Sherif.
Jan Egeland, Secretary General of the NRC, committed the council to supporting the children of Gaza.
“The children of Gaza continue to face unimaginable horrors. It has taken a toll on young people, most of whom have lived through many past wars, leaving thousands dead, injured and orphaned. This funding from ECW will make it easier to take the first steps to address health issues. to restore mental health and education services But it represents a sea of needs in Gaza. Do everything possible to provide this. We ask donors to prioritize children in Gaza to protect their future,” Egeland said.
This funding brings ECW’s funding to the State of Palestine to approximately $36 million.
Even before the start of the unprecedented conflict, an estimated 800,000 children in Gaza—a third of all children—had been identified as needing psychosocial and psychological support, ECW said in a press release.
“By investing in small continuing education and mental health and psychological support for the children and youth of Gaza, we are trying to do what we can to reduce their suffering and bring whatever hope we can to these young people,” said Sherif. .
Reports from the United Nations show that human rights violations and violations of children’s humanitarian laws have increased significantly in Gaza. Hundreds of girls and boys are reported to be killed or injured every day. “Right now, the Gaza Strip is the most dangerous place in the world to be a child,” according to UNICEF.
The grant brings ECW’s total funding to the State of Palestine to approximately US$36 million.
ECW has provided ongoing funding for education in the State of Palestine since 2019.
ECW joined United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres in calling on donors to increase funding to meet the critical needs of the 3.1 million people across Palestine. We must close the funding gap to secure the US$3.42 billion needed.
IPS UN Bureau Report
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© Inter Press Service (2024) — All Rights ReservedOriginal source: Inter Press Service
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