As people around the world counted down to 2010, CARE International West Bank and Gaza has kicked off the New Year by distributing clothes to support children in Gaza a year after Operation Cast Lead offensive. CARE strives to assist Gazan children to celebrate new beginnings and give them hope for the future.
As a consequence of the tight blockade on material and people in and out of Gaza and Israeli military offensives in December 2008 and early January of 2009, most households are now still struggling to support themselves and meet basic humanitarian needs. On Thursday, December 31, 2009, CARE started its clothes distribution under the Gaza Emergency Response: Clothes for Gazan Schoolchildren" project, which is funded by multiple private donors. With more than $63,000, CARE already distributed clothes to more than 800 schoolchildren in need in Juhor ad Dik, and is planning to distribute next in Al Maslakh and Al Mughraqa. These communities were heavily affected by the Israeli offensive and have received some but not adequate support during the past months. Hence, they require more support to help them cope with the current winter season.