Children in the Middle East are living in fear

Hundreds of thousands of children in the Middle East are living through crisis. Many have witnessed family members and friends injured or killed. They’ve been forced to flee the safety of their homes and take refuge in schools or tents. The terror of living in fear of daily airstrikes will leave profound and lasting psychological scars.

Children need our help. Your donation can help us respond.

What your support can do

Right To Play has been protecting, educating, and empowering children in the Middle East for more than 20 years. We are gravely concerned about the impact of the escalating crisis on children's health, well-being, and learning.

Donations to the Children’s Emergency Fund will provide children in Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon with the supplies, spaces, and support they need while living through conflict. Your gift will ensure that children receive the emotional support they need to feel safe and cope with stress and anxiety. Your support will also give children kits that keep them playing and learning through the lengthy school closures and provide a much-needed sense of normalcy.

Our response so far

Thanks to donor support, we’ve provided 5,000 psychosocial support kits and hygiene kits to children and their families in central Gaza. With hygiene supplies and play items like colouring books, crayons, and games, the kits are helping children cope with trauma. More than 600 children sheltering in tents received winterisation kits containing pants, jackets, shoes, and thermal underwear to protect against harsh winter conditions. We have also provided assistive devices to children with disabilities. And we’ve reached children with psychosocial support sessions that give children a chance to connect, play together, and process trauma.

Middle East Crisis 2024 Interstitial images (1)

In the West Bank, we’ve delivered 800 emergency first aid kits and more than 2,600 psychosocial support and learning kits with items such as pencils, paper, backpacks, and water bottles. We continue to coordinate with local partners and peer agencies to assess and respond to children’s needs.

Our team is working with local partners to mobilize a response in Lebanon to support conflict-affected children there.

We will continue to work with partners across the region to assess their evolving needs.

Children's Emergency Fund Response Area (1)

Making a Difference Through the Children's Emergency Fund

For 25 years, Right To Play has been helping children access the psychosocial support they need to cope with fear and trauma, and the inclusive, interactive, and supportive education they need to learn, develop, and thrive.

Donate today to ensure children receive play-based psychosocial support, necessary supplies, and the chance to return to learning when it is safe. Donations to the Children’s Emergency Fund allow Right To Play to respond wherever the need is greatest, including Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon.


Photo credit: Top photo by ADEL HANA via Associated Press