When war strikes, a child’s world is destroyed before their very eyes: they lose parents, friends and homes. The illusion of safety is shattered when a child’s very universe — their bedroom and safe haven — is bombed and shelled.
Conflict also takes away the small things that many of us take for granted. These children describe some of their most missed possessions — things that made their already difficult lives a bit more tolerable.
Saber, 12: “My toy computer”.
Sanabel, 10: “My teddy bear”; Haifa, 6: “My doll”.
Mohammed, 11: “My computer and books”.
Yarra Ziada, 9: “My games and red dress”.
Khalil, 6: “My red kite”.
Malak, 3: “My doll”.
Amar Musabeh, 5: “My money box”.
Shaed Naeem, 12, [left]: “My posters”; Tasneen, 9, [centre]: “My doll”; Saja, 11, [right]: “My clothes”.
Abdallah, 6: “My playstation”.
Around 108,000 Palestinians lost their homes during Operation Protective Edge, Israel’s latest military operation in the Gaza strip. Currently 110,000 Palestinians are still displaced — the majority of them children.
Their bedrooms were supposed to be the safest place in the universe. Instead they became the most dangerous place. According to the UN, it will take 20 years to rebuild the parts of Gaza that were damaged. The International Red Cross is supplying vital help to those affected by the conflict, you can support their efforts here.