Palestinian Youth to Show Solidarity with Syrian Youth affected by Earthquakes Stressing Vital Role of Youth in Humanitarian Action
Palestine – The humanitarian action youth group of ActionAid Palestine (AAP) expressed its solidarity and support to their Syrian peers in Northwest Syria as they are affected by earthquake that hit Syria and Turkey on 6th February 2023.
Palestinian youth sent messages of solidarity to their Syrian pioneers through the "Violet" organization, which is a youth organization partnering with ActionAid international to set up a local partner-led humanitarian response focusing on providing immediate humanitarian relief to affected communities in Idleb, Aleppo and Latakia Governorates. In these messages, young people expressed their support to their Syrian peers under the humanitarian crisis caused by earthquakes. Palestinian youth shared with them their experiences and suffering during disasters, emergencies, natural and political crises caused by illegal practices of Israeli occupation, including, displacement, war, destruction, and military escalation.
The messages contained motivational words highlighting the vital role of youth in humanitarian work and response, and assuming leadership roles in processes of preparedness, response, and reconstruction. The messages stressed the fact that youth work hard to provide their best to strengthen the resilience of their communities.
Youth activist, Bisan Odeh from Gaza sent a message to her Syrian peers: “We recognize the difficulties you pass through. We wish you could have the power and capacity for resilience and recovery so that you could contribute to reconstructing your country”.
The youth activist, Adham Yaghi from Gaza Strip: “Palestinian youth have been experiencing emergencies and crisis for decades. We recognize the brunt of the war, bombing and devastation”.
The youth activist from Gaza Strip, Fuad Bant demanded Syrian youth to focus on leading mental health initiatives that are essentially needed to mitigate the devastating consequences of crisis and emergencies.
The Protection coordinator in the Syrian “Violet Organization”, Sawser Talostan, “there is no one more special than Palestine`s Youth sharing your concerns and supporting you. Patient people with high determination. Thank you for supporting us”.
The humanitarian action youth group is one of the youth group AAP established to strengthen and support capacities of youth to actively act in process of response, preparedness to emergencies and new shocks by providing them with required skills and knowledge. This group was established through the Global Humanitarian program which is part of AAP’s program of “Strengthening Palestinian Young people, particularly Young Women’s Leadership and Influence for Resilient, Just and Green Societies” within the strategic partnership 2 with ActionAid Denmark and it is funded by the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA).
The initiatives of solidarity and advocacy the humanitarian action youth group leads is a practical application to intensive trainings its youth members received addressing issues of principles of humanitarian action, building alliances and networks and humanitarian advocacy. Placing youth at the center of humanitarian action represents ActionAid’s approach for supporting youth by seeing them as key partners and leaders in process of reconstruction and recovery in ‘building back better’ for themselves and their communities as they are more familiar with needs of their community. Therefore, young people are usually the first respondents to humanitarian crisis although are severely affected by emergencies and protracted crises. Engaging young people in prevention, preparedness, response and recovery will bring better, more localized and more accountable responses.
Background Information
ActionAid in Palestine (AAP) is a part of global federation working for social justice and gender equality and eradicate poverty in more than 45 countries around the world. AAP started its work in Palestine in 2007 to strengthen the resilience of Palestinian People as ActionAid believes that they should enjoy their rights to freedom, justice and self-determination. AAP implements a number of programs through its engagement with communities and women and youth groups seeking to empower them and enhance their influential civil and political participation to understand their rights and undertake collective activism to address the protracted rights violations resulting from the prolonged occupation of Palestine. AAP works simultaneously to enhance their leadership capacity and knowledge to practice their citizenship in holding authorities and other duty bearers to account.
For more information, please contact.
Riham Jafari
Coordinator of Advocacy and Communication in Palestine
Mobile:
+972 (0) 595242890
Office:
+972 (0) (2) 22 13 137
Email: