Child Helpline International strongly condemns the severe, escalating violence in Israel and the State of Palestine and its serious impact on the most vulnerable in the region: children.
We are especially concerned about the reports of hostage taking and kidnapping, and attacks deliberately targeting civilians, including children.
We call on all parties involved to prioritize the safety, mental health, and psychosocial well-being of children, recognizing the profound and lasting impact that conflict has on their lives.
Children are particularly vulnerable during times of war and conflict, and we must all be fully committed to ensuring that their rights and wellbeing are upheld, as enshrined in the United Nation’s Convention on the Rights of the Child.
The child helplines operated by ERAN, NATAL in Israel and SAWA in the State of Palestine, must be provided with the necessary resources to have the ability to operate flexibly and expand quickly to respond fully to the substantially increased number of contacts from children in crisis at this time. Child helplines provide children with essential information and Emergency Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (EMHPSS), which is essential to help children cope with the traumas they endure during these harrowing times.
Child Helpline International and our members in Israel and the State of Palestine remain steadfast in our commitment to listening to and amplifying the voices of children in this time of crisis, as well as providing them with the support they need to navigate the challenges they face.