Derry donations are saving many lives in Gaza says Trócaire

PICTURED: Trócaire CEO Caoimhe de Barra at the launch of their Christmas Appeal focusing on "Children in Conflict". She is pictured with 45 teddy bears (each teddy represents 10 million children) to highlight the fact that over 450 million children in the world - one out of every six young lives – are living in a conflict zone.  (Photo: Leon Farrell/Photocall Ireland)

Irish NGO Trócaire has said that donations made by communities across County Derry and around the country are saving many lives in Gaza.

The organisation made the announcement as it launched its Christmas Appeal this morning (1st Dec) which is focusing on ‘Children in Conflict’ and highlighting the fact that one in six young people in the world live in conflict zones.

Speaking at the launch, Trócaire CEO Caoimhe de Barra said that the horrendous situation in Gaza has already resulted in the deaths of thousands of innocent women, men and children and the unacceptable death toll continues to rise. 

“As well as those who have tragically lost their lives, many more people have been seriously injured. The situation is posing huge challenges for Trócaire’s partners but that they are making a difference thanks to the support of the public in County Derry.

"Trócaire’s partner organisation, Medical Aid for Palestinians, is working against the odds in Gaza to ensure that those injured, many of them children, receive urgent medical care to give them the best chance of survival. Another partner, Caritas Jerusalem, has seen their medical centre and clinic in Gaza City damaged in the bombardment but staff are continuing to strive to provide whatever medical support they can. 

"This life-saving work has been made possible by the generosity of people here at home,” said Ms. De Barra.  

“The recent temporary truce allowed for limited humanitarian aid to reach those desperately in need of food, water, and medical assistance, and the release of hostages and those arbitrarily detained allowed them to be reunited with their families. However, a pause is not enough. A permanent ceasefire needs to be brokered to bring an end to the hostilities that have seen thousands of Palestinian and Israeli civilian lives lost, the majority of them women and children.”

“Many of Trócaire’s local partner organisations in the Gaza Strip have been unable to operate in recent weeks, and they have suffered their own horrendous ordeals through displacement and loss of friends and families. When they are able to do so, they must be allowed to return to delivering lifesaving medical care, psychosocial support and legal assistance to the people of Gaza,” Caoimhe de Barra said.

Before the escalation of violence last month, the Palestinian residents of the Gaza Strip faced acute humanitarian needs, with more than 80% of the population dependent on some form of humanitarian assistance. Today, 1.7 million of the 2.2 million residents of the Gaza Strip are internally displaced, in an area that is half the size of County Louth. 

Karen McHugh writing a message on a blackboard beside 45 teddy bears (each teddy represents 10 million children) on Merrion Square. The board highlights the fact that over 450 million children in the world - one out of every six young lives – are living in a conflict zone. (Photo: Leon Farrell/Photocall Ireland)

“Gaza is quite rightly in the headlines at the moment but it’s not just there where children are bearing the brunt of violence and conflict. From Gaza to Ukraine, from Ethiopia to Sudan, today we are highlighting the fact that over 450 million children in the world - one out of every six young lives – are living in a conflict zone. 

“Imagine life for a child caught in a conflict zone this Christmas. In many cases they have no food, no clean water to drink or safe place to rest their heads. Fragile. Frightened. We are asking people here at home to support our Christmas Appeal which will provide survival kits, emergency dignity kits and essential food baskets for these children and their families, as well as supporting critical work across Trócaire’s global programmes. Please, if you are able, make a donation at www.trocaire.org.”