Media reports describe air strikes as precision missiles, and they are presented as an instant, benign flash on the evening news. After that, there is a commercial – and life goes on. This depiction makes such airstrikes more acceptable to viewers.

The repeated air strikes on Gaza are no different. Additionally, in this case, the selective use of language and facts by the same media numbs the senses and loosens the morals of the audience so they accept such atrocities as justified and necessary. It is common to read that an airstrike on a residential building in Gaza resulted in the death of a “militant leader.” This story makes it to the evening news. In the meantime, the untold stories of hundreds of innocent lives are conveniently omitted. 

During my visits to the communities we serve in Gaza, I met the people of the untold stories – I was blessed to know them as individuals. 

They are people who have dreams and fears; people who have families and feelings. 

They are people who live, laugh, love, bleed, cry, and die. They are people whose lives have worth and whose hopes are real. They are the people whose stories continue to be untold.

The ongoing siege and the repeated bombing of Gaza causes continued human suffering. Hospitals are running out of medications and consumables. Homes are still damaged, and infrastructure is destroyed. Most of Gaza’s water is non-potable, and other vital resources are further depleted. Food insecurity continues to be a challenge for many families, and symptoms of ongoing trauma in children and adults are evident. The humanitarian crisis continues. 

Your support to UPA will help us continue our lifesaving work providing immediate support including food, water, fuel, medical supplies, and emergency psychological support to children, families, and communities. 

UPA’s work is as much needed today as it was when it was established 45 years ago. 

Sincerely Yours,

Saleem F. Zaru
Executive Director