Beyond Conflict backs new GCMHP project for Gazan women and children

September 2026

Beyond Conflict has given fresh funding to our partner Gaza Community Mental Health Programme (GCMHP) to support a new mental helath project for women and children in Gaza, as it prepares to mark the one-year anniversary of the ceasefire agreement on October 10.

Dr Yasser Abu Jamei, Director of GCMHP, said:

“Soon it will be one year since the so-called ceasefire. During the last 11 months, more than 1300 people were killed, including 300 children. The whole population of Gaza lives with the reminder every day: ‘You could be next’.

“The reality is it is still not safe for the people of Gaza.  Gazans don’t feel protected and at the same time hundreds of thousands remain displaced in tents or partially destroyed homes.  We have a big responsibility on our shoulders to deliver mental health interventions under unprecedented conditions and circumstances.

“The money raised by Beyond Conflict will go mainly to help children and women and maintain our community centres. Thank you very much to everyone who has supported this work and we’ll try to help as many people as possible.”

This latest funding follows our support for GCMHP’s project for children in 2025. Last year, Beyond Conflict supported a project that helped 3,846 children aged 5–16 years, comprising 2,236 girls and 1,610 boys. That project was funded by our donor, the London Stock Exchange Group Foundation (LSEG). Out of this total of almost 4,000 children helped, up to 10 percent of those identified as suffering the most serious cases of trauma were referred for one-on-one specialist support. You can read the 2025 impact report here: https://beyond-conflict.co.uk/mediahub/blog/gaza-project-by-partner-gcmhp/

1300+ Gazans killed during ceasefire

More than 1300 people have been killed in Gaza since the ceasefire began last October, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. The United Nations says more than 75,000 civilians have been killed in Gaza since this phase of war began. Around 64,000 children have been killed or injured in Gaza.

The UN said on 17 September 2026 that almost “84 per cent of Gaza’s population – more than 1.76 million people – live in overcrowded displacement sites or damaged shelters, leaving families vulnerable to freezing temperatures, heavy rain and flooding”.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in a Situation Report on 18 September 2026:

“Nearly a year after the announcement of a ceasefire agreement in October 2025, civilians in Gaza continue to face life-threatening risks amid widespread destruction, immense humanitarian needs, ongoing strikes and restrictions on the entry of essential supplies and equipment, and critical funding shortfalls. These risks are becoming increasingly acute as winter approaches.”

Gaza’s infrastructure has been almost totally destroyed, including homes, schools and hospitals. Beyond Conflict’s partner GCMHP has seen two of its hospitals bombed. This means GCMHP has to work in one rented building, caravans and tents positioned across Gaza.

Many NGOs operating in Gaza have reported that their frontline aid workers have been directly targeted by IDF attacks. On 19 August 2026, the UN said in a story on its website: “Despite the declaration of a ceasefire last October, Gaza remained the deadliest context for aid workers in 2025, for the third consecutive year, with 186 killed, 68 per cent by aerial bombardment.”

Edna Fernandes, Beyond Conflict Co-Founder and Executive Director, said:

“BC gladly supports the continuation of GCMHP’s work for children and now women in Gaza. We commend the courage and dedication of its staff who continue to deliver mental health support to the civilian population, at great risk to themselves.

“All of the team at Beyond Conflict thanks Dr Yasser and his team for their ceaseless commitment to protecting the mental health of the people of Gaza against a backdrop of military threat and deprivation.  We call for a just peace and an immediate end to hostilities in the region, in all forms. A ceasefire which fails to honour the lives of innocents and aid workers is no ceasefire at all.”

Thanks to everyone who raised funds for this project. You can donate here to help our work in conflict zones around the world: https://cafdonate.cafonline.org/8696#!/DonationDetails#%2FDonationDetails

Or via the QR code below