March 2024. PTC(UK) operating in all parts of Gaza
The vicious, genocidal campaign currently being waged against the people of Gaza is being met with resistance of a very special kind. A number of organisations are striving to help traumatised children build and sustain their resilience in response to terror, deprivation and the destruction that surrounds them.
PTC(UK) is contributing to this effort in all parts of Gaza.
In the Northern area, Dr Yehya Awad and his son Mohammed are working with children whose lives have been literally smashed to pieces.
In Gaza City, Tareq Abu Shqair, the clown on stilts, has been entertaining children in spite of the extreme danger in that area. He brought bright colours to the dusty grey street surrounded by rubble. He brought a smile to pale young faces. He did all this despite having bullets lodged in his leg from an injury sustained a few weeks before.
In the Middle Area, near our destroyed trauma centre in Nuseirat Refugee Camp, Ali Ziad and Bayan Abu-Roos have gathered a team of volunteers to support children with Days of Joy activities at the local UNRWA school.
Meanwhile, in the tent city at Rafah, Hadeel Badir and Sabrin Mosa have been engaging children and women’s groups in Focusing activities, play therapy and community wellness. The fear of invasion is very great here and focusing skills have become an essential tool for combatting anxiety and fear.
Finally, in preparation for Ramadan, lanterns are being made. Jaber Thabet and friends are engaged with this and to everyone’s joy our colleague Mahmoud al-Hasanath has joined Jaber and Ahmad Ghorab having partially recovered from terrible injuries and enduring the loss of about 20 close family members. At another part of the tent city, Firas and his brother continue their valuable work.
As we approach the Holy Month, we give thanks for the courage that sustains all these wonderful people mentioned above and hope that their suffering will end soon.
