Fast-acting grant delivered by the Norwegian Refugee Council
will expand access to their ongoing Better Learning Programme,
including urgently needed mental health services, for children in
Gaza.
NEW YORK, Aug. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The human
suffering in Gaza has taken an
unprecedented toll on children and adolescents living amidst this
soul-shattering experience that no child should have to endure. In
support of global efforts to provide girls and boys with access to
quality educational opportunities and mental health services,
Education Cannot Wait (ECW) announced today a US$2 million First Emergency Response grant in
Gaza. Total ECW funding in the
State of Palestine is approximately US$36
million.
The fast-acting 12-month grant will be delivered by the
Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) through its ongoing Better Learning
Programme in Palestine, which aims to improve learning conditions
for children and adolescents in Gaza.
Since early October 2023, 625,000
children enrolled in schools across Gaza have had no access to education, and more
than 370 schools have sustained damage from attacks, according to
the United Nations.
Even before the start of the recent unprecedented hostilities,
an estimated 800,000 children in Gaza – three-quarters of its entire child
population – had already been identified as needing mental health
and psychosocial support.
"2.2 million Palestinians in Gaza are in the midst of an epic humanitarian
catastrophe, facing inhumane conditions. There is unprecedented
violence in modern times, starvation, famine and disease.
Desperation and scarcity have led to a total breakdown of the lives
of children and adolescents. Today, we are calling on world leaders
to support diplomatic efforts to ensure the unconditional release
of all hostages now, create a lasting humanitarian ceasefire,
provide safe and unimpeded access for humanitarian aid, ensure full
adherence to international humanitarian law by all parties to the
conflict, and a realization of a political and peaceful solution.
Meanwhile, by investing in a minimum continuation of learning, and
mental health and psychosocial support for the children and
adolescents of Gaza, we are trying
to do what we possibly can to mitigate their suffering and bring
whatever hope we can to these young people," said Yasmine Sherif, Executive Director of Education
Cannot Wait, the Global Fund for Education in Emergencies and
Protracted Crises within the United Nations.
United Nations reports indicate that grave human rights and
humanitarian law violations against children are rampant in
Gaza. Hundreds of girls and boys
are reportedly being 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 children of Gaza continue
to face unimaginable horrors. It has taken an appalling toll on
young people, many of whom have lived through numerous previous
conflicts, many thousands dead, injured and orphaned. This grant
from ECW will enable the first steps in restoring mental health and
learning services. But it represents a drop in an ocean of needs in
Gaza. The children and young
people who have suffered during this unprecedented conflict must
not be forgotten – they will need sustained support for years to
come, and NRC will do all it can to provide this. We call on
funders to prioritise children in Gaza in order to protect their futures," said
Jan Egeland, NRC's Secretary
General.
ECW has provided continuous funding for education in the State
of Palestine since 2019, including a US$10 First Emergency Response announced in
November 2023.
ECW joined United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres in
calling on donors to scale up funding to meet the critical needs of
3.1 million people across the State of Palestine. We must bridge
the funding gap to secure the needed US$3.42
billion.
About Education Cannot Wait (ECW):
Education Cannot Wait (ECW) is the global fund for education in
emergencies and protracted crises within the United Nations. We
support quality education outcomes for refugee, internally
displaced and other crisis-affected girls and boys, so no one is
left behind. ECW works through the multilateral system to both
increase the speed of responses in crises and connect immediate
relief and longer-term interventions through multi-year
programming. ECW works in close partnership with governments,
public and private donors, UN agencies, civil society
organizations, and other humanitarian and development aid actors to
increase efficiencies and end siloed responses. ECW urgently
appeals to public and private sector donors for expanded support to
reach even more vulnerable children and youth.
On X (formerly Twitter), please
follow: @EduCannotWait, @YasmineSherif1, @KentPage
Additional information available
at: www.educationcannotwait.org
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