Escalating violence in Gaza city, Palestine, forced a two-day closure of Islamic Relief’s Integrated Care Programme for Traumatised Children (ICPTC) on the 11th and 12th of May.
The ICPTC centre is located in El Bureij camp, an area that became completely isolated from Gaza city following the declaration of the Nezarim settlement as a militarised zone.
The trauma centre helps children like 15-year-old Hania Suliman who lost both her legs after stepping on a landmine. Staff have helped her cope with the trauma of such a crippling injury.
Palestine Office Evacuated
In Gaza city, the main IR office was evacuated on 11th May after increased military activity made it unsafe for staff to continue working. The office reopened the following day.
The Secretary-General of the UN, Kofi Annan, issued a statement expressing his concern over the escalating violence in Gaza. He said he was deeply disturbed by the alarming violence in the city.
Centre for Traumatised Children
Established in 2001, the ICPTC centre currently supports 166 traumatised children in the El Bureij and Nusseirat refugee camps and the El Mughraqa area.
Islamic Relief will be keeping you up to date with the latest news from our Palestine office.