Palestinian children deserve an opportunity to live out their lives with dignity in a caring and safe environment

The United Nations declared
June 4 as the International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression in
1982, when they were “appalled at the great number of innocent Palestinian and
Lebanese children victims of Israel’s acts of aggression.”

The
purpose of this day is to

acknowledge the pain suffered by
children throughout the world who are the victims of physical, mental and
emotional abuse
. This day also celebrates the millions of individuals and
organizations working to protect and preserve the rights of children worldwide.

“On this solemn occasion,
we need to recall the sacred duty, enshrined in the United Nations Declaration
of the Rights of the Child, to ensure that all children, without any exception
whatsoever, enjoy special protection,” said former UN Secretary-General
Javier Perez de Cuellar in his message for the 1983 observance.

33 years later, the Israeli
threats and aggressions are still targeting Palestinian children in the
occupied territories, depriving them of
their basic right to live in a safe environment as well as their right to
education and right to enjoy a healthy psychological and physical development.

In Gaza:
–      
571 children lost their lives
during last year’s assault

–      
An
estimated 1,000 of the 3,000
children who have been injured will suffer from a life-long disability

–      
373,000 children are in need of psychological
support

–      
Children
aged under 7 have already lived through
3 attacks
 

Interpal proudly
supports the Palestine Trauma Centre UK/Gaza, whose work is invaluable. The centre
worked with children and families throughout the bombardment during July
and August 2014. Mohammad, a young boy from Nuseirat refugee camp, suffered
from PTSD after the attack and received help from the centre. You can read his story here.

Today the centre
continues to provide children and their families with community-based
support and techniques to promote resilience.

Palestinian
children endure lives of suffering. These children deserve an end to the
occupation and the daily abuses that come with it; they deserve an opportunity to live out
their lives with dignity in a caring and safe
environment.

If you’d like more info about our projects, please
call 0208 961 9993 or visit www.interpal.org

Calculate your Zakat

Confused about how to calculate your Zakat? Try our simple-to-use calculator