THE GAZA STRIP, 9 July 2023 – The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) opened the Gaza Summer Fun Weeks in an event held today in Jabalia Refugee Camp in the north of the Gaza Strip. Running from 8 July to 3 August, the Summer Fun Weeks will reach over 130,000 children from across the Gaza Strip, including children with disabilities.
With the Gaza Strip facing recurring rounds of armed conflict and a persistent 16-year blockade, UNRWA continues to prioritize the well-being and mental health of Palestine Refugees. In response to the psychological impact of repeated conflict and harsh living conditions, the Agency has introduced the “Fun Weeks” as part of its relief and assistance efforts.
The Fun Weeks aim to provide vital psychosocial support to children, offering a secure and nurturing environment. According to a recent UNRWA study, 38 per cent of children showed symptoms of functional impairment that affect their daily lives. The Fun Weeks are a direct response to the psychological needs of children. UNRWA believes that every child, regardless of their circumstances, deserves the fundamental right to live, learn, and play without fear. This has been compromised in the Gaza Strip due to the ongoing cycles of escalations and blockade.
Thomas White, the Director of UNRWA Affairs in Gaza, emphasized the Agency’s commitment to providing psychosocial support to the refugee children of the Gaza Strip. “The ongoing conflict is having a devastating psychological impact on the children of Gaza. The Summer Fun Weeks play a critical role in reintroducing a much-needed sense of stability into their lives while simultaneously offering them an opportunity to simply enjoy,” said White. “At the end of the day, children are living in a war zone and these activities allow them to simply be children,” he added.
UNRWA remains committed to alleviating the hardships faced by the Palestine Refugee community in the Gaza Strip and will continue to explore innovative initiatives to enhance their well-being and offer support during these challenging times.
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Over four weeks, more than 130,000 Palestine refugee boys and girls, including those with disabilities, will participate in a series of activities including greening, recycling, sports, drawing, handicrafts, and language learning.
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These activities will be held in 91 locations across the Gaza Strip, fostering interactions between the children and promoting social values like leadership, respect, and cooperation.
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There are 73 main locations for regular activities, 10 locations for special activities (English Language Club, Information Technology, Culture and Folklore, Music Choir and Global Citizenship), in addition to eight locations for children with disabilities.
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The Fun Weeks also create temporary employment opportunities for youth in the Gaza Strip, offering 3,261 short-term jobs through the UNRWA Job Creation Programme.
Background Information:
UNRWA is the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East. The United Nations General Assembly established UNRWA in 1949 with a mandate to provide humanitarian assistance and protection to registered Palestine refugees in the Agency’s area of operations pending a just and lasting solution to their plight.
UNRWA operates in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, The Gaza Strip, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.
Tens of thousands of Palestine refugees who lost their homes and livelihoods due to the 1948 conflict continue to be displaced and in need of support, nearly 75 years on.
UNRWA helps Palestine Refugees achieve their full potential in human development through quality services it provides in education, health care, relief and social services, protection, camp infrastructure and improvement, microfinance, and emergency assistance. UNRWA is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions.
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