World Vision Distributes Emergency Kits to Families in Gaza

Northern Gaza.bmp
Palestinian children play under a makeshift shelter as their family rests on the rubble of their destroyed house in the eastern part of Jebaliya, northern Gaza Strip, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2009. (Photo: AP Images / Khalil Hamra)

World Vision is delivering more than 1,100 emergency kits to families in Gaza still struggling without basic necessities in the wake of the recent conflict between Hamas and Israel.

The distribution got underway on Wednesday after the arrival over the weekend of the aid agency’s first relief truck since the bombing began on Dec. 27.

Each kit contains candles and enough food to feed a family for up to a month, as well as a picture brochure printed in Arabic warning families about the dangers of unexploded ordnance.

The kits will support an estimated 9,000 people in southern Gaza’s Rafah area where they are being handed out by local World Vision staff. The organization has planned for another shipment to support another 9,000 people in north Gaza this week.

World Vision said the widespread damage to infrastructure and buildings had left people in Gaza in urgent need of food, blankets and candles.

“As we meet these vulnerable households’ immediate needs, we also call for conditions that will allow recovery for families throughout Gaza – most urgently for the opening of all border crossings to full capacity to permit humanitarian aid and specialists,” said Charles Clayton, National Director of World Vision Jerusalem.

World Vision has already reached more than 3,000 people with food in the last few weeks from its existing emergency relief in Gaza. A shipment of 5,000 blankets is due to arrive this week, followed by hygiene kits.

A recent World Vision study released just prior to the latest conflict reported high rates of trauma among children in Gaza, with more than 16 percent of children between the ages of five and 15 suffering from recurrent nightmares and nearly 13 percent in the same age bracket suffering from bed-wetting caused by anxiety.

World Vision UK’s Head of Emergency Affairs, Ian Gray, said the impact on children had worsened during the latest conflict.

“Initial assessment reports from our staff in Gaza suggest children have suffered immensely over the past few weeks; witnessing horrific violence, watching parents die, losing their houses, becoming separated from families and being cut off from access to important social institutions like school,” Gray explained.

World Vision will support vulnerable children by setting up child-friendly spaces in both the north and south areas of Gaza, where they can play with other children and begin to process the trauma they have been exposed to.

“Child-friendly spaces are an important first step in the normalizing process for hundreds of children in Gaza, as we try to help mitigate the potential long-term damage done by the recent conflict,” said Gray.

    Most Popular
  • Is 'The Last Supper' worth watching? Audience and critics weigh in

    Is 'The Last Supper' worth watching? Audience and critics weigh in

    Faith-based films often receive mixed reactions, and The Last Supper is no exception. The movie attempts to bring a fresh perspective to one of the most iconic moments in Christian history, but does it succeed? Some reviews from critics and audiences provide insight into its strengths and shortcomings.

  • ‘The Chosen’ Season 5: The darkest season yet—What to know before watching

    The wait is over—The Chosen is back with its fifth season, and this time, things are getting intense. The new episodes dive straight into the final days of Jesus’ life, covering some of the most emotional and dramatic moments in the Bible. If you’ve been following the series, you already know that The Chosen isn’t just about retelling familiar stories—it’s about bringing them to life in a way that feels real.

  • Massacres in Syria: Over 1,000 dead, including Christians and Alawites

    Syria’s coastal regions have been devastated by a series of massacres, with reports indicating that over 1,000 people—many from Christian and Alawite communities—have been killed in brutal attacks. Entire families have been wiped out, and survivors are fleeing in search of safety as sectarian violence escalates.

  • Kim Sae-ron and Wheesung: The tragic irony of Korean society and the principles of happiness

    Not long ago, the media was in an uproar over actress Kim Sae-ron’s passing. Just months before, the same people who had relentlessly criticized her for her DUI incident were now expressing sympathy, saying, "The world was too harsh on her." The irony is impossible to ignore.

  • Newsboys move forward as a quartet after Michael Tait’s departure

    After more than a decade as the lead singer of the Newsboys, Michael Tait has officially parted ways with the band, marking a significant shift in the Christian rock group’s lineup. The remaining members—Jeff Frankenstein, Jody Davis, Duncan Phillips, and Adam Agee—have assured fans that they will continue forward, embracing a new season of music and ministry.