The crisis in Gaza, and now in Lebanon, is desperate, with men, women and children hungry and homeless – but the Irish Emergency Alliance is responding through our brave humanitarian workers across Gaza, as well as the West bank and Lebanon, to bring life-saving essentials to those who need them most.
We must act now.
We have initiated the first intervention inside Gaza with our partner Taawon (Welfare Association), distributing hot meals to around 2,000 people.
The escalation of conflict between Lebanon and Israel has now brought the total number of displaced people in Lebanon to 200,000, according to the Lebanese Foreign Ministry. Speaking from a school in Mount Lebanon which is now being used to house displaced families, Rachel Challita from Plan International Lebanon says that Plan is scaling up its response.
“From the beginning of the escalation, Plan International has been on the forefront of the response. We’ve been supporting families in need and the displaced since last October. And today, we are in this temporary collective shelter, distributing essential food items and mattresses and blankets for the people in need.”
Horrific violence has engulfed Gaza and Israel since October 7 and has left countless lives shattered.
At least 13,000 children have tragically lost their lives, and over 1.7 million people are displaced from their homes. The situation in Gaza is horrifying – there is nowhere safe for children.
We continue to call, as we have from day one, for the immediate release of all civilian hostages and for access to them. Children should never be held as a hostage or prisoner. We also demand an immediate end to the forced displacement of Palestinian civilians, in Gaza and West Bank, and for International Humanitarian Law to be upheld at all times. The horror, suffering, and trauma children are facing right now is indescribable – they need food, water, medical assistance and a place of safety more urgently than ever before.
Please help, we can’t afford to wait.
