Sharjah charity The Big Heart Foundation donates $1 million to support Palestinian children

Sheikha Jawaher Al Qasimi directed the funding to six initiatives in the Gaza Strip and Al Quds

A Palestinian man plays with a child among the ruins of a building destroyed during recent Israeli bombing in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip. AFP

Damage at an agricultural fertilisers factory hit in recent Israeli air strikes, in Beit Lahia. AFP

A Palestinian girl in the rubble of her family house in Beit Hanoun town, in the northern Gaza Strip. EPA

Palestinians gather round a fire between their destroyed homes in Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip. EPA

Life goes on among the ruins of buildings destroyed during recent Israeli bombing in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip. AFP

An agricultural fertiliser factory targeted in recent Israeli air strikes, in Beit Lahia. AFP

The view from a damaged shop in a building partially destroyed by recent Israeli air strikes on Gaza City. AFP

A Palestinian woman makes coffee in the kitchen of her destroyed house in Beit Hanoun, northern Gaza Strip. EPA

Debris litters an area of Beit Hanoun hit by an Israeli air strike during an 11-day war between Gaza's Hamas rulers and Israel. AP Photo

A Palestinian boy recovers his toys from the rubble of his house in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip. AFP

Beit Hanoun neighbours gather in a clearing strewn with debris from an air-strike before a ceasefire that halted the 11-day war in Gaza between Hamas and Israel. AP Photo

Sheikha Jawaher Al Qasimi, wife of the Ruler of Sharjah, has organised a $1 million donation to support Palestinian children affected by the bombing of the Gaza Strip this month.

As chairwoman of The Big Heart Foundation and an eminent advocate for refugee children at the UN refugee agency, Sheikha Jawaher arranged for the donation to be sent to support six projects.

Funding will go to four initiatives in Gaza and two in Jerusalem. It will be used to provide food, temporary shelter, medical supplies and mental health support to those in need.

It is essential to help and support the Palestinian people to overcome this acute phase of hardship

More than 114,000 people fled their homes as a result of the bombardment of Gaza, according to figures released by the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA).

Among the displaced, 77,000 Palestinians took refuge in schools and the rest sought shelter in the homes of relatives or in construction sites.

To pool resources and expertise, The Big Heart Foundation is working in collaboration with Doctors Without Borders (MSF) and the Welfare Association.

Supporting the Palestinian people

Sheikha Jawaher Al Qasimi with refugee children. NNC

Their first project has been designed to support the first responders and medical staff in the surgery departments at Nasser Hospital, Shifa Hospital and other medical centres in Gaza.

A specialised team will also be formed to handle trauma cases, including aneurysm and vascular surgery, in addition to anaesthesiologists and intensive care unit experts.

The funding will also help MSF and the Welfare Association to find food, temporary shelter supplies and other daily essentials for grassroots organisations that are helping people who lost their homes and jobs.

Mariam Al Hammadi, director of The Big Heart Foundation, underlined Sheikha Jawaher's commitment to ensuring people’s essential humanitarian needs are met.

"The recent events along the Gaza strip, Al Quds [Jerusalem] and other Palestinian cities have caused serious physical, psychological and economic damage, which has furthered the complexity of Palestinian realities," she said.

"There is an evident shortage of medical supplies and basic life amenities in these areas as they battle the pandemic.

"It is essential to help and support the Palestinian people to overcome this acute phase of hardship, as we realise the directives of Sheikha Jawaher to provide relief in all vital humanitarian sectors."

Donations can be made through the following link: https://tbhf.ae/donate/details.php

Bank transfers can be made to Sharjah Islamic through the IBAN: AE050410000011430430 002

Cheques and cash payments can be made by contacting the foundation on 055 757 4930.