According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health1, over 11,100 Palestinians, including 3,374 children, 2,088 women and 410 elderly were injured. Preliminary estimates indicate that up to 1,OOO of the children injured will have a permanent disability and up to 1,500 orphaned children will need sustained support from the child protection, welfare, and medical sectors.
The United Nations report on the Gaza crisis1 shows a harrowing picture:
- • Over 500,000 Palestinians displaced at the height of the hostilities; Over 100,000 still displaced.
- • Approximately 18,000 Housing units destroyed or severely damaged
- • Approximately 108,000 Palestinians homeless
Over two months, Gaza suffered extreme destruction of its civilian infrastructure: hospitals, schools and places of worship were among the worst affected. Meanwhile thousands of innocent Gazans sustained severe injuries and were left homeless. As a result, the region's health services are being overwhelmed by an avalanche of acute and traumatic injuries. Moreover, the harsh inadequacies in access to shelter, clean water, heating, food, and medical supplies have caused a health crisis.
Charity is one of the five pillars obligated upon every Muslim, after belief, prayer, pilgrimage, and fasting. In the Quran, Allah emphasises the duty of reaching out to the needy and less fortunate: "and in their wealth is a right for the needy who ask, and the deprived". The Prophet Mohammad (Peace be upon him) reinforces the importance of sacrificing energy and resources to relieve other human-beings from their hardship: "take benefit of five before five: your youth before your old age; your health before you sickness; your wealth before your poverty; your free time before you are preoccupied; and your life before your death". It is these axioms that light our path and fuel our drive to see our brothers and sisters through their suffering.
LivISOC has a strong tradition of charity: each year we dedicate a week for the sole purpose of raising money and awareness for various charitable causes across the world. This year we hope to raise £30,000 to fund the building of a desperately needed Intensive Care Unit in Gaza.
The people of Gaza desperately need our help. Join us and donate generously for this honourable and pressing cause.
Peace,
LivISOC
1 United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs occupied Palestinian territory http://www.ochaopt.org/documents/gaza_mira_report_9september.pdf
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