IBBY Children in Crisis: Gaza Libraries

Until the pandemic lockdown, the two IBBY libraries had managed to keep open, allowing the children of Gaza to enjoy a safe place where they could take refuge and learn, read, draw and play. The libraries were closed for almost five months, making it very difficult for the IBBY section to reach the children that needed support during this time.

Progress Report: Our Children and the Coronavirus

In May 2020, after long weeks of difficult lockdown, the library in al-Shawka Rafah was allowed to open to small groups of children who could visit to borrow and read books, as well as have a place to be able to write, draw and share their stories about their experience during the pandemic. The children visiting the libraries in Gaza were invited to express their thoughts and fears about the coronavirus. Their pictures are below and the texts can be viewed here. IBBY Palestine has continued to distribute boxes containing pencils and notebooks, but also added boxes of face-masks and hand-sanitizer. Whenever possible, food coupons and clothing for the children were distributed, which was especially important over the winter months. Despite the setbacks the children have benefitted greatly from the libraries. The libraries have played an important role and made a difference in their lives – in their achievements in school, psychological health and confidence. The libraries also have a positive impact on the community, as many mothers have become members and readers.

July: Read the IBBY Palestine Report for April to July 2022 here.

December: Read the IBBY Palestine Report for September to December 2022 here.

In April 2017, IBBY launched a new appeal for funds to keep the libraries in Gaza open and active.
Photos from the libraries and the children's activities from 2017 and 2018 can be seen below.

IBBY Appeal for Gaza 2017

Ten years have passed since the IBBY libraries were set up in Gaza. Since then life in Gaza has not improved and in many cases it has got worse: the war in 2014, the continuing oppressive occupation, the restrictions and blockades. For many children, the IBBY libraries are a sanctuary and place of hope: they continue to need our support and focus, and importantly – not let them become forgotten.

In 2012, IBBY added a new clause to its Statutes stating that it is committed to protect and uphold the Rights of the Child.

One library is situated in the northern community of Beit Hanoun near the Israeli border; the other is in the south in the town of Rafah, close to the border crossing with Egypt. However, in 2014 the al-Ataa library in Beit Hanoun was completely destroyed. Since 2015 the al-Sikka library has been operating as its temporary replacement until the rebuilding is complete.  

The funding for the libraries comes, to a great extent, from the great American children’s author Katherine Paterson and her family foundation.

The war on Gaza, the long years of occupation and the on-going siege have together produced a horrific situation that demands urgent action from the local and international humanitarian organizations. The children of Gaza are victims of serious violations of their rights as a result of the on-going humanitarian catastrophe there.

The launch of this new appeal for funds to keep these libraries open and active is to give them hope and lifeline to a better future.

The Palestinian Section of IBBY/PBBY and IBBY will continue to organize bibliotherapy and other activities based on creative reading that will bring some relief to these traumatized children, as well as supporting literacy.

Appeal: Text in Arabic (download)

Newspaper Article 29.05.2017

In July 2014, the Rafah library was badly damaged and the Beit Hanoun library was destroyed. In October 2014, IBBY launched an appeal for the reconstruction of IBBY’s Gaza libraries. PBBY began to rebuild and refurbish what had been destroyed and the Sharjah/IBBY Fund commited another round of funding in 2015 for training, the purchase of new books, replacing the lost equipment and more activities for the children. A report and photos can be found here.

IBBY Appeal for Gaza 2014

Read the appeal in Arabic here.

The International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) was established shortly after the close of World War II in the hope of helping the world move beyond such things.  IBBY’s founder, Jella Lepman, believed that books could build bridges of understanding and peace between people.  Children all over the world needed to know what all good readers know: you are not alone; others, even your enemies, have experiences, feelings and needs just like you do, and there is a whole world out there that you know little about.  IBBY’s work in the past sixty years has been informed by these ideals.

Projects in Afghanistan, Iran, with Syrian refugee children in Lebanon, and in Pakistan are recent examples of this work.  Today we are launching an appeal for the reconstruction of IBBY’s Gaza libraries.

In 2012 IBBY included in its mission statement that it is committed to protect and uphold the Rights of the Child.  IBBY will voice its disapproval against anyone who harms or disregards these rights – regardless of the offender.

IBBY has been supporting two children’s libraries in the Gaza Strip since 2008.  One library was situated in the northern community of Beit Hanoun near the Israeli border, the other in the south in the town of Rafah, close to the border crossing with Egypt.  The funding for the libraries came, to a great extent, from the great American children’s author Katherine Paterson and her family foundation.  The librarians had to be trained long distance because of the ongoing Israeli Government blockade and the Egyptian Government’s frequent closure of the border crossing into Egypt, both of which makes travel impossible for the residents of Gaza. 
The books selected by IBBY experts in the region took months to arrive, but they did finally reach Gaza and the libraries could at last open.   The children from the local communities found a safe refuge – as long as there was no war raging around them.

But in recent years there have been three devastating wars fought in this tiny, closed territory.   And each time these children are invisible – “collateral damage”.  Anything, apparently, can be done to them with impunity.

At dawn on Sunday, 18 July 2014 the Israeli Occupation forces targeted the al-Ataa Charitable Society resulting in the partial destruction of the building.  The damage was great and among the projects that were destroyed was the IBBY library.

Again at dawn ten days later on Thursday 28 July, just before the humanitarian truce ended, the Society was hit: a direct rocket from an F16 fighter jet completely destroyed the building levelling it to the ground.  With this, Beit Hanoun lost an essential institution that had served all the sections of the Palestinian community: the children, women, young people and those with special needs.

The al-Shawka library in Rafah was occupied by the military and left in a very dirty condition with its windows broken.  However, even though much of the equipment is broken or missing, the books are still on their shelves.   This is good news for the children, although the majority of them have lost their homes and the librarian’s house was completely destroyed. 

By the end of July it was reported that there were 182,604 internally displaced people in Gaza.

Since the beginning of the Israeli offensive, over 2,000 Palestinians have been killed, some 1,600 of whom are civilians, including at least 500 children and 300 women.  Well over 10,000 others have been wounded.  Again these are mostly civilians, many women and children.  Thousands of houses have been completely or partially destroyed by the shelling.

In April 2013 the IBBY President, Executive Director and Foundation President visited Gaza and saw just how much the young library users loved and depended on their libraries.  They felt safe there.  They could explore their feelings and find hope there.  They could imagine a better life there.  Today these children have been robbed of all that these libraries gave them.

The IBBY community has an obligation to rebuild these libraries, and we will – re-housing and re-stocking them in order to try to bring these children who have lost so much, help and the knowledge that they are not alone, not abandoned as they rebuild their lives once again.  Perhaps with time they can regain a sense of safety and belief in the value of dialogue and hope for the future.  They will know that we care. 

Dear IBBY Friends,

It is around one year now since the complete destruction of IBBY al-Ataa library and the damaging of al Shawka library.

The sad reality is that our people in Gaza did not get the opportunity to mourn their dead, heal their wounds and build their houses. The infrastructure is still damaged and the destroyed houses are still rubbles! The Israeli occupation (1967) goes on and the siege is ongoing since 2006 accompanied with the Egyptian closure of Rafah crossing into Egypt; thus making Gaza the largest prison in the world!

Conflicts in modern times marginalize Child Rights Convention; civilians, and children in particular, are the main victims of the horrors of high tech weapons. Palestinian children suffering is ongoing, it did not stop with the dreadful loss of more than 551 children  and the  wounding and displacement of thousands; till this date,  thousands of children including  the children of the two libraries are struggling with loss, stress and displacement!

IBBY was up to its Mission and responded quickly to the disaster, in pursue to its vital program ‘Children in Crisis situation’, (Gaza in 2008), and  to its commitment to move forward in supporting Children Rights, launched IBBY Gaza Appeal 2014 expressing its obligation and commitment:

The IBBY community has an obligation to rebuild these libraries, and we will – re-housing and re-stocking them in order to try to bring these children who have lost so much, help and the knowledge that they are not alone, not abandoned as they rebuild their lives once again. Perhaps with time they can regain a sense of safety and belief in the value of dialogue and hope for the future. They will know that we care.

We the PBBY Administrative Committee and members express our thanks to all our dear IBBY Friends. Thank you for your solidarity and for your concern.  Special thanks and appreciation to the National Section, member or friend who contributed to IBBY Gaza Appeal.

Jehan Helou

President of IBBY Palestine

www.ibbypalestine.org

12 August 2015

Recreational and Learning Day for PBBY libraries

50 children from both libraries Beit Hanoun al-Sikka and Rafah Al Shawka with 12 animators and the librarians participated at the event held at Crazy Water resort in Gaza.

The children gathered in an open place where they could relax and where PBBY implemented a number of learning and recreational activities.  These included games using drama, relaxation, music and movement, concentration and imagination. There was also mask making and storytellers shared Palestinian stories with the children. The children were also provided with breakfast and lunch. Over breakfast they had time to talk and get to know each other. This was very important as this was the first time that the children from the two libraries met up!

One of the girls said: I am very happy that I got introduced to girls like me in another library in a remote place in the north of Gaza. We live in the south so when we sat down and talked about our suffering during the war, I thought we alone suffered and had our house destroyed, but I found out that there was the same suffering, fear and terror as if we were watching a film for the same people and heroes and directors. 

These activities are important psycho-social tools to help reduce the stress and suffering of Palestinian children in Gaza who continue to be traumatized because of the occupation and siege conditions under which they continue to live.The day was a great success and will be repeated in the summer of 2016.