The Israel-Gaza War began two years ago on October 7. It has been two years of terror, bombing and violence. Two years of hunger, sickness and unspeakable trauma.
Lutheran World Relief has a long history of reaching our neighbors in the Middle East, but this crisis has been especially difficult to witness. Early in the war, we were able to get one truckload of emergency supplies into Gaza. Since then, the route has been blocked.
But as Christians, we are called to love our neighbors — to feed the hungry and help those in need. Our incredible donors have urged us to remain persistent and offer help to innocent families in any way we can. Thankfully, your love has found a way to help the most vulnerable people caught in this war: children.
Bringing comfort to Gazan children living in Egypt
Since the war began, thousands of families have fled Gaza to seek refuge in Egypt. Although they are no longer living in the line of fire, the children have endured more trauma and experienced more terror in their short lives than most of us can fathom.
These children carry the invisible wounds of war — the deep emotional wounds that manifest as anxiety, withdrawal, sleep disturbances, aggression and difficulty concentrating. Without proper support, these children are at risk of long-term mental health challenges, poor academic performance, social isolation and behavioral problems.
Your compassion is surrounding these children to support their healing and help them prepare for a more hopeful future. Working with the staff of youth centers in the Egyptian cities of Cairo and Alexandria, we are offering trauma-informed psychological support to 200 children aged 8-14 who have fled the war in Gaza. This looks like:
- Helping children, caregivers and community members recognize signs of emotional distress and learn how to manage them
- Identifying children who need additional support and counseling
- Providing outlets for children to process shared experiences in a supportive group environment with other kids. This includes age-appropriate discussions, role play and team-building exercises to build resilience and community.
- Helping children express their emotions and process trauma through art therapy. This helps to ease anxiety and foster positive emotional engagement through imagination and expression.
Thank you for believing that all children deserve safety, support and the chance to survive and thrive. Let us pray for peace and continue doing all we can to aid and protect those who need it most.