Dallas Gaza 5K Raises Over $250,000 for Palestine Refugee Children Facing Severe Psychological Trauma
The Gaza 5K hosted by UNRWA USA occurs in selected cities throughout the year,
raising critical funds for mental health programs supporting Palestine refugee children and families in Gaza
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DALLAS –– This past Saturday, May 16, over 1,200 American participants gathered at Bachman Lake Park for the annual Dallas Gaza 5K, hosted by UNRWA USA. Alongside cultural figures including Palestinian artist Waheeb Nasan and local DJ Yoonis, the signature event successfully raised over $250,000 for critical funding for mental health initiatives led by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in Gaza.
The funds raised directly employ UNRWA’s mental health counselors who provide psychological first aid, coping strategies, and trauma-informed support to children and families navigating unprecedented levels of displacement and distress in Gaza. To date, UNRWA has provided psychosocial support to over 70% of children in Gaza.
As one of the primary providers of emergency learning and psychosocial support (PSS) services across the Gaza Strip, UNRWA prioritizes specialized social work units, including psychiatrists and psychosocial counselors. According to institutional tracking, UNRWA’s dedicated social work teams have provided critical psychological first aid and targeted PSS case management to over 269,000 displaced individuals. This intensive intervention includes specialized assistance for over 35,000 persons with disabilities and thousands of children navigating deep psychological trauma, helping to manage severe social and acute psychological stressors.
“Children in Gaza have suffered unimaginable devastation and destruction, with many unable to speak as their young minds try to cope with the weight of trauma that no child should ever experience. Yet, underneath the constant threat of bombings and airstrikes, UNRWA’s mental health counselors have been there to care for Gaza’s children and their families, even as they themselves suffer their own losses,” said Hani Almadhoun, UNRWA USA Vice President for Philanthropy. “The Gaza 5K is UNRWA USA’s way to bring people of all walks of life together to show that we won’t turn our backs on Gaza’s caregivers and families. Palestine refugees deserve a chance at safe, healthy, and full lives without fear of bombs or famine. Unlocking humanitarian assistance is a much-needed first step.”
Despite a severely restricted flow of humanitarian aid and the ongoing freeze in U.S. government funding, UNRWA’s workforce of over 11,000 Palestinian staff on the ground continues to serve as the irreplaceable backbone of the humanitarian response in Gaza. Private contributions from grassroots American donors provide an essential lifeline to maintain these core services.
Building on the momentum and community solidarity demonstrated in Dallas, UNRWA USA will continue its national fundraising efforts later this year. The next Gaza 5K is officially scheduled for Sunday, September 13, at Lake Merced Park in San Francisco, California.
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UNRWA USA National Committee (UNRWA USA) is an independent nonprofit organization that provides support for the humanitarian work of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). UNRWA USA lifts up the voices, experiences, and humanity of Palestine refugees to secure American support for resources essential to every human being, for the promise of a better life. U.S. taxpayers are eligible for tax deductions for donations made through UNRWA USA.
Media Contact: For more information, contact Zeina Hijazi, Director of Strategic Communications, UNRWA USA, by phone at (202) 909 7701 or via email at zeina@unrwausa.org.
