Children still disproportionately impacted by Middle East Crisis, peace is needed – World Vision
Monday January 15 2024, London - 100 days after the beginning of the Middle East Crisis, children and families are still bearing the brunt of the conflict. In violence that has already killed more children than any other conflict in recent times, a lasting peace and access to aid supplies is vital to save innocent lives.
World Vision, one of the leading child-focused international aid organisations, calls on all leaders involved in this crisis to promote peace and the long-term wellbeing of all children in the region.
It has been 100 days since the horrific attacks on Israel of October 7th, people are still being held hostage and children are under siege. The number of children suffering across the Middle East continues to grow.
No child deserves to live through a conflict or to be held hostage. No civilian population should be prevented from accessing humanitarian aid. The United Nations hunger monitoring system, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, warns that Gaza faces a level of acute food insecurity worse than anything across the globe in living memory.
Across the West Bank, we are still seeing violence, unrest and access restrictions, preventing humanitarians from delivering aid to those who need it most and stopping children and their families living a healthy life.
The continuing violence, food insecurity and school closures make normal childhoods impossible. More children are being killed or injured, and all face harm to their mental and emotional health. The life outcomes for a generation of children will be severely impacted by this crisis.
“The lives of all children are sacred, holy and precious. Releasing hostages and protecting all children by providing them with the humanitarian aid they need to survive should be the highest priority," says Reverend Andrew Morley, World Vision International President and Chief Executive Officer.
“One day, let alone 100 days, is too long for any child to endure such unprecedented suffering.”
As fears grow of a regional escalation, World Vision says the world must urgently talk about how to achieve a lasting peace, expand access to essential supplies, and solve the growing hunger and poverty in the region.
“A humanitarian crisis, historic in its scale of devastation, can only be solved by acts of humanity, historic in its scale of care and grace," says Reverend Morley.
World Vision is currently supporting vulnerable children across the Middle East by responding to urgent family needs, creating safe spaces, and providing psychological services. They are also responding in 100 countries across the world.
ENDS
Notes to editor:
For more information please contact: World Vision’s Middle East Crisis Response
Communications Manager Charles Lawley charles_lawley@wvi.org
World Vision is a Christian humanitarian and development organisation dedicated to working with children, families, and their communities to reach their full potential by tackling the root causes of poverty and injustice. World Vision serves all people, regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, or gender.
For more information, please visit www.wvi.org or follow us on X, formerly known as Twitter, @WorldVision