Turkey's First Lady, Emine Erdogan, has reached out to Melania Trump, urging her to advocate for the children affected by the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Erdogan commended the former US First Lady's previous support for children impacted by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and called for a similar stance on behalf of Palestinian kids who are suffering in the recent crisis.
In a poignant letter released by the Turkish presidency, Erdogan described Gaza as having transformed into a "children's cemetery" and emphasized the importance of joining forces to confront these injustices. The appeal comes as UN-backed experts report dire humanitarian conditions, with around half a million people facing famine in Gaza City, and an alarming number of children, specifically 132,000, at risk of severe malnutrition.
"The phrase 'unknown baby' inscribed on the shrouds of many Gazan children leaves a lasting mark on our conscience," Erdogan stated in her letter, which specifically implores Trump to extend her advocacy for vulnerable children to those in Gaza. She even encouraged Trump to engage with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to put an end to the humanitarian ordeal impacting the region.
Erdogan, who typically emphasizes environmental initiatives, has previously issued letters of concern concerning global humanitarian crises, including one about the Syrian civil war and a condemnation of Israeli actions in Gaza earlier this year.
Compounding the crisis, the IPC report warned that over 640,000 individuals in Gaza face catastrophic conditions due to severe food shortages, which have currently hit children particularly hard—one-third of whom are acutely malnourished. Tragically, the Hamas-run health ministry has reported that several children have already succumbed to malnutrition amid the ongoing violence. Following renewed hostilities against Gaza, over 62,000 lives have been claimed since the conflict intensified after the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
Despite Israel's claims dismissing the notion of famine in Gaza and criticizing the methods of IPC evaluators, the on-ground reality reflects a dire need for intervention, especially as the population continues to suffer from the infrastructural collapse of healthcare, water, sanitation, and hygiene systems.
