![](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sheffieldpsc.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/play-and-heal.jpg?w=525\")
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The siege of Gaza<\/a> and\u00a0the regular Israeli military attacks of the last decade have left a cruel mark on the children.\u00a0 In the\u00a0 attack in 2014 alone over 500 children<\/a> were killed with the\u00a0United Nations estimating\u00a0<\/a>300,000 children in need of pyscho-social support. Other groups estimate the figures are higher.<\/p>\n The siege has left conditions which a\u00a0United Nations report<\/a> states that, unless addressed, will leave Gaza\u00a0‘unlivable’ by 2020. Youth unemployment runs at 60\u00a0per cent and electricity is often only available for two hours a day.<\/p>\n Sheffield Palestine Solidarity Campaign with Gaza based partners\u00a0Middle East Childrens Alliance<\/a> and the Never Stop Dreaming Project<\/a> have developed an initiative\u00a0\u00a0to provide some much needed care and respite for these children\u00a0 – the Khuza’a Play and Heal project.<\/strong><\/p>\n The siege of Gaza and\u00a0the regular Israeli military attacks of the last decade have left a cruel mark on the children.\u00a0 In the\u00a0 attack in 2014 alone over 500 children were killed with the\u00a0United Nations estimating\u00a0300,000 children in need of pyscho-social support. Other groups estimate the figures are higher. The siege has left conditions which … <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/spbr.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/khuzaa-healing-centre.jpg?resize=300%2C236\")
Land in Khuza\u2019a, Khan Younis, has been donated by a local nursery with\u00a0construction completed in July 2018. The centre cost\u00a0roughly \u00a312,000 to build,\u00a0\u00a36,000 for furnishing and play equipment. and \u00a38,600 per year to run.<\/p>\nThe centre (pictured left) was ready and due to open in September 2018 but due to attacks by Israel and pressure on resources, this has been delayed.<\/div>\n<\/div>\nIt will operate initially\u00a0 as a play centre providing much needed relief to the local children. There is space for 30 children. The centre will provide three full time jobs – one caretaker and two activity workers. After further training\u00a0the centre will develop more\u00a0therapeutic approach\u00a0in 2019.<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"