Updated: 24 Aug 2021 7:08 pm
Posted: 14 May 2021 9:00 pm
Update August 24, 2021: This “How to Help” article, originally posted on May 14th, was taken down shortly thereafter due to controversial interpretations of the post’s intentions and framing, both internally among the IGN staff and externally.
An IGN employee council, with the advice of a third-party ombudsman, and leadership are in agreement that the post required adjustments to be more culturally conscientious of our staff’s and our audience’s potential reading. We regret the error in publishing without those adjustments, and recognize that our processes failed us. We are also in agreement that instead of taking down the post we should have updated the post.
The editorial team at IGN also values candid transparency with our audience as an important tenet of journalism, affirming trust and authenticity with our community. To that end, with advice from the ombudsman, we’ve published our newly formalized, more rigorously structured policies regarding takedowns and corrections to published posts. We also have more formal processes in place to ensure that the EIC and a wide group of senior editorial leads are involved in both the editing process for sensitive topics as well as any necessary post-publish adjustments and statements.
IGN has been diligently practicing ways in which we can spread more cultural celebration and inclusivity, and support humanitarian efforts through How to Help articles like this one. All of our efforts -- from supporting the Asian American Pacific Islander community in the face of increasing hate to standing on the side of the Black Lives Matter movement to raising awareness and funds around the horrifying COVID-19 conditions in India -- are ultimately humanitarian causes. The IGN editorial team is committed to using our platform for good to support the innocent voices who need it the most.
Civilians are currently suffering in great numbers in Jerusalem, Gaza, and West Bank. The NYTimes reported that most of the deaths so far have occurred in Gaza, where the death toll stood at over 230, with 12 dead in Israel as of the cease-fire on May 20. Many of the casualties were civilians, and the demand for urgent care has placed a huge burden on hospitals, blood supplies, and other essential services.
Recent escalations have seen a tragic loss of Palestinian lives and a lack of access to basic resources. Below are charities and organizations on the ground in those areas where you can donate funds to help those most in need.
Save the Children:
Save the Children runs several children-focused initiatives, including education programs for young children in places where schooling is disrupted, and the establishment of Child Friendly Spaces in stressful environments. Save the Children also connects families with clean water and income programs.
https://www.savethechildren.org/
Doctors Without Borders
Doctors Without Borders has medical teams on the ground in Jerusalem and has been treating injured Palestinians. They are also on the Gaza Strip assisting with medical needs.
https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/
Palestine Children’s Relief Fund
PCRF has been providing humanitarian assistance to injured and sick children in Gaza for 30 years. Their efforts include sending children abroad to receive appropriate medical care, providing food and medicine, sponsoring orphans and disabled youth, and building the only pediatric cancer center in Gaza.
Anera
A non-profit organization, Anera works on the ground with partners in Palestine (specifically West Bank and Gaza), Lebanon, and Jordan, offering resources for both emergency relief and long-term needs in the areas of health, education, and economic development.
United Nations Relief and Works Agency
The UNRWA has provided food assistance for over 1 million Palestinians, and continues to do so in the territories with heavy destruction. They also provide emergency mental and physical health protection for those in the region.
https://www.unrwa.org/gaza-emergency
Medical Aid for Palestinians
MAP provides medical and healthcare to Palestinians in need, specifically women and children. The assistance includes emergency relief, psychosocial support, and help with disabilities, among other medical needs.
Action Against Hunger
Action Against Hunger is a global humanitarian organization that focuses on providing food and clean water. The organization has been active in the West Bank and Gaza since 2002, its teams working to improve access to clean water while preventing the spread of waterborne illnesses.
https://www.actionagainsthunger.org
For further reading on the region: Check out this timeline of the conflict, why it seems to continue without resolution, and some background on the current fighting. We hope you’ll join us in helping civilians in need in these Middle East regions by donating to the above organizations and causes.
