Australian Conny Lenneberg, World Vision’s regional leader for the Middle East and Eastern Europe, said she was horrified by the civilian toll of last year’s war – and in particular the deaths of about 500 children and the thousands more who suffered severe injuries.
Ms Lenneberg said she had vivid and horrifying memories of returning to Gaza after the seven-week bombardment.
“Nothing can justify the conduct of this war which saw children and civilians trapped, with nowhere to seek shelter from relentless bombardments that destroyed homes, apartment blocks, schools and hospitals,” she said.
“Nothing can justify the conduct of this war which saw children and civilians trapped, with nowhere to seek shelter from relentless bombardments that destroyed homes, apartment blocks, schools and hospitals,” she said.
According to UN figures, between 7 July and 26 August last year, at least 2104 Palestinians were killed, including 1462 civilians, of whom 495 were children and 253 women. In addition, 66 Israeli soldiers and five Israeli civilians were killed, including one child.
Nine of the children who were killed in Gaza were sponsored through World Vision, including one young girl, Amena, who was killed after her family decided to go home for one day after 44 days of moving between UN shelters.
Ms Lenneberg said a recent United Nations Human Rights Council report on last year’s war starkly illustrated that “in the absence of a just and lasting peace, Palestinian and Israeli children continue to grow up in the shadow of violence, conflict and fear”.
World Vision, which has worked in Gaza since 1988, established dozens of Child Friendly Spaces for severely distressed children across Gaza in the aftermath of the war. But Israel’s blockade of Gaza has prevented any rebuilding and about 100,000 people - more than half of them children - remain displaced.
Thousands of families are living in the rubble of their homes. “I was heartbroken by the deaths of infants over the winter whose families had no proper shelter - just some blankets in the ruins trying to keep out the bitter cold,” Ms Lenneberg said.
World Vision has called for Israel’s seven-year blockade of Gaza to be lifted to allow rapid, unimpeded passage of all humanitarian workers and items needed to run vital services.
“Conditions in Gaza, particularly for children, are deplorable,” she said. “Because of the blockade, they are not able to leave these conditions behind, and they are not able to bring in what they need to rebuild their lives. World Vision believes the ongoing occupation and conflict has robbed generations of Palestinian and Israeli children of peace, justice, and hope for a future where fullness of life is possible. What children on both sides of this conflict need most is peace.”
(Stuart Rintoul)
Ms Lenneberg said a recent United Nations Human Rights Council report on last year’s war starkly illustrated that “in the absence of a just and lasting peace, Palestinian and Israeli children continue to grow up in the shadow of violence, conflict and fear”.
World Vision, which has worked in Gaza since 1988, established dozens of Child Friendly Spaces for severely distressed children across Gaza in the aftermath of the war. But Israel’s blockade of Gaza has prevented any rebuilding and about 100,000 people - more than half of them children - remain displaced.
Thousands of families are living in the rubble of their homes. “I was heartbroken by the deaths of infants over the winter whose families had no proper shelter - just some blankets in the ruins trying to keep out the bitter cold,” Ms Lenneberg said.
World Vision has called for Israel’s seven-year blockade of Gaza to be lifted to allow rapid, unimpeded passage of all humanitarian workers and items needed to run vital services.
“Conditions in Gaza, particularly for children, are deplorable,” she said. “Because of the blockade, they are not able to leave these conditions behind, and they are not able to bring in what they need to rebuild their lives. World Vision believes the ongoing occupation and conflict has robbed generations of Palestinian and Israeli children of peace, justice, and hope for a future where fullness of life is possible. What children on both sides of this conflict need most is peace.”
(Stuart Rintoul)
