31 October 2016
The Al-Najjar family lives together in one house in Bani Suheila, a village in Gaza. The conditions the family live in are absolutely appalling. As winter approaches the house is cold and damp. There is no running water, no electricity and barely any furniture. No sunlight reaches their windows to brighten up their lives. The family of 23 rely on just one wage to survive - that of 17-year old Abdul.
I've seen many families living like this in Gaza. Unemployment is high and there isn't enough money to buy nutritious food. This is having a devastating effect on children's development. One third of children here currently have mild or more severe stunting. For the youngest in the Al-Najjar family, including one-month-old Abia, chronic malnutrition poses a huge risk - it's linked to long-term health problems and can lead to problems at school, work and in later life.
Please consider making a gift this Christmas to help support MAP's malnutrition programme at the Ard el Insan clinic in Gaza. You can help us ensure families, like the Al-Najjars receive the food and life-saving support they need.
I have been working for the health of Palestinians for 10 years now. I had hoped to see an end to the occupation or at least for their lives to get better. In fact, they have become worse.
The occupation of Palestine and the political issues surrounding it can sometimes seem insurmountable. But behind the partition walls and the checkpoints are thousands of ordinary families - just like yours and mine - who are trying to get on with their lives.
Palestinian families are as resilient and as strong as they can be, but life gets harder every day. This Christmas, you can show Palestinian families they are not alone.
Please consider making a donation today.
It's only thanks to the generosity of supporters like you that MAP is able to reach families in need. Thank you for your kindness.
Tony Laurance, Chief Executive