Response in Lebanon, West Bank, Gaza, Israel
A cease-fire was declared August 14, and within two weeks, nearly all displaced families had returned to their homes and villages — shops began to reopen, roads cleared, and food and water were available in the markets. Schools were to resume only a few weeks later than normal. As part of the rebuilding, Save the Children has established a total of 27 Safe Spaces in southern Lebanon reaching at least 2,500 children, is in final negotiations with partners for another 63 Safe Spaces, and supported six months' worth of free health care at nine clinics for more than 17,000 people.
Although the immediate emergency has ended, Save the Children continues to implement programs that few other groups are addressing such as education for children and families to identify and deal with unexploded ordnance and landmines, health care for pregnant and lactating women, and offering psycho-social support to children.
Other longstanding Save the Children programs continue to promote health and responsibility in Lebanese children and young people. These include Youth Civic Responsibility workshops to educate teenagers in northern Lebanon on taking part in the growing democratic process; and Youth Development programs to train young camp organizers and counselors in working across ethnic and religious lines and in helping children with special needs. Save the Children knows that working today with tomorrow's leaders is the best way to build Lebanon's future.
Read more about Save the Children's programs in Lebanon
The continuing economic deterioration, violence and lawlessness in Gaza has kept the country unstable and its children uncertain about their futures. But with a successful appeal for emergency contributions, Save the Children's offices in Nablus, Halhoul, Ramallah, Gaza City and Jerusalem have managed to continue providing food, Safe Play Spaces, education, health care and essential supplies to children at risk even during the worst fighting, travel restrictions and blockades.
Save the Children remains one of the largest non-governmental organizations active in this area, responding to the emotional and physical needs of nearly 300,000 children and adults, most of them poor. Critical emotional and psycho-social support goes to traumatized children in their schools and communities, and clinics have been given new capacity to provide essential emergency obstetric care for pregnant women.
Several job-creation programs have constructed or rebuilt schools, clinics, playing fields, cisterns and other facilities since 2001, providing more than 140,000 working days for unemployed laborers. More than 2,000 impoverished young people and women have expanded small businesses and generated extra income under Save the Children's FATEN, a micro-finance lending institution that spun off from Save the Children in 1995. A project called INJAZ ("success" in Arabic), co-funded by Junior Achievement Worldwide and Save the Children, delivers a series of innovative business and economics courses in schools that give students the chance to learn about the "real world" of work, how to manage their personal finances, conduct successful job interviews, and plan their careers..
Between July and early October, Save the Children distributed more than 1,565 boxes of necessary household items, toys and food in the al Shoka and Rafah areas while repairs to al Shoka's local water trunk line continued. Two stainless-steel water tanks were provided to ensure clean drinking water at an UNRWA-operated school, and more than 500 children have emergency psychosocial support activities. A special Ramadan festival evening was held October 5 at which children and their families read poems, held competitions and games and enjoyed community with one another.
Gaza and the West Bank remain among the world's most dangerous places for children and their families, and for international assistance workers as well. Nearly half of Save the Children's programs are conducted by local partner groups, enabling our staff to expand their work nationwide into ever more remote and marginalized areas. The children of the West Bank and Gaza are its beneficiaries, and the region's future is brighter as a result.
Read more about Save the Children's programs in the West Bank / Gaza Strip
The impact of the war on the citizens of northern Israel was significant. Many towns and villages lack the necessary support infrastructure, which are normally developed and operated by the government, such as public shelters, alarm systems, hotlines, food support and supplies. Many children and families were exposed to the daily rocket and mortar attacks with no protection or support systems to deal with stress and trauma. At the time when the war broke out, children were on school vacation, and as a direct result of the violence, the ongoing summer camps in northern Israel were canceled. Subsequently, children had no structured activities in which to participate, and parents were left to support their children by themselves.
Through its long-time partner, Save the Children supported the initiation of activities to help children and their families in northern Israel cope with the stress and trauma of war. A series of radio shows addressing the topic of stress and how to manage children's trauma were broadcast, and stress relief kits containing games and toys for children and informational brochures for parents were distributed.
Through the same partner, Save the Children will continue to support a project entitled "The Day After". The purpose of the project is to support the psychosocial needs children and their families in a post-war setting by providing psychosocial and educational support materials to parents, teachers, and caregivers so that they may effectively implement programs designed to support children suffering from post-traumatic stress caused by the war.
