Gaza Ceasefire: UK charity urges action for youngest victims of crisis

New Report Outlines Blueprint to Prioritize Gaza’s Children Under Five 

London, 16th January: Following the ceasefire announcement between Israel and Hamas, UK-based children’s charity Theirworld has issued a stark warning: Gaza’s youngest and most vulnerable—children aged 0-5—face a severe early childhood development crisis. 

Theirworld’s newly published report, “Early Childhood Development in Gaza: A Blueprint and Urgent Call for Action,” highlights the urgent need for a coordinated global response to address the needs of over 570,000 individuals, including pregnant women, lactating mothers and young children. 

Over a quarter of Gaza’s population has critical early childhood needs, including healthcare, nutrition and safety. Theirworld is calling for the creation of an early childhood development (ECD) coalition to unite international, regional and local actors in addressing critical gaps in the early years.  Without a dedicated governance body, young children risk being overlooked in the fragmented humanitarian response. 

A Generational Crisis at Tipping Point

The report paints a grim picture Gaza’s youngest population and their families face:  

• Collapse of healthcare systems: more than 50% of hospitals non-operational and 70% of hospital bed capacity lost, leaving thousands of pregnant women and young children without access to essential care
• Widespread malnutrition and lack of access to clean water: 85% of parents report that their children have gone entire days without food
• Decimated educational infrastructure: 70,000 children without access to kindergartens, preventing early learning opportunities for younger children crucial for cognitive and social development

The report’s author, and Theirworld Senior Advisor for Education in Emergencies, Maysa Jalbout, said:

“The children of Gaza have suffered unimaginable loss and trauma. More than 20,000 children have been orphaned, over 2,000 have had one or more limbs amputated and at least 50,000 are suffering from acute malnutrition. We are calling for an urgent coordinated humanitarian response that prioritizes the health and wellbeing of the more than 400,000 children aged 0-5. The international community must do everything in its power to ensure Gaza’s youngest children receive the support they need to recover and build a brighter future with a renewed hope in humanity.” 

A Vision for Recovery

The report outlines a two-phased recovery plan: 

• Immediate Action: Establish coordinated ECD delivery hubs to provide critical healthcare, nutrition, and early learning services to mitigate the long-term impacts on children
• Long-Term Recovery: Restore essential systems, including healthcare, education, and psychosocial support, over the next 2-5 years.

Theirworld President, Justin van Fleet, emphasised the importance of collaboration: 

“As part of our broader crisis response in the region, this blueprint aims to ensure that the youngest children in Gaza are not forgotten in humanitarian efforts. Addressing their needs must be a priority for international aid and recovery plans.”

Sarah Brown, Chair of Trustees at Theirworld, concluded: 

“The need to restore safety and security for Gaza’s children cannot be overstated. The window for intervention is closing, and failure to act now risks the future of an entire generation.”

The report calls for immediate investment and collaboration to protect Gaza’s youngest and ensure they have a chance at a brighter future.

ENDS

For media inquiries, contact: 
Darika Ahrens 
Director of Communications 
[email protected] 
+447960528480 
 
Notes to Editors

About Theirworld

Theirworld is a global children’s charity committed to ending the global education crisis and unleashing the potential of the next generation. Its mission is to ensure that every child has the best start in life, a safe place to learn and the skills they need for the future. www.Theirworld.org

For information about Theirworld’s response to the crisis in the Middle East, please visit:  https://theirworld.org/projects/crisis-in-the-middle-east-a-call-to-action-for-children-and-youth/  
 
To download the report, go to: https://theirworld.org/gaza