“We Need to Take Action for 40 thousand Orphans in Gaza”

Yetim Foundations president, Murat Yılmaz, spoke on the 15th of Ramadan World Orphan’s Day. He stated that there are 1 billion orphans, single parented children and social orphans in this world and the latest attacks on Gaza have left 40 thousand children orphaned.

15.03.2025

With the decision of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in 2013 15th of Ramadan World was made official. This year for the 12^th time Orphan Day was met with various activities. The press statement was organized by Yetim Foundation, İHH and Yeryüzü Çocukları Association (YEÇED). In the press statement, Yetim Foundation President Murat Yılmaz highlighted the situation of the orphans all around the world.

Yılmaz stated the following: “In the world we live in there is 8 billion people, and 2.5 billion of them are children, at least 1 billion of these children are orphans, single parented children or social orphans.”

The President Yılmaz mentioned that Yetim Foundation operates in 45 countries including Palestine, Syria, Arakan, Lebanon, Yemen and Afghanistan as he stated: “Last year we supported about 2.5 billion children, mothers and people in need thanks to our 300 thousand donors.”

Yılmaz especially highlighted the situation in Gaza saying the following: “Since 2023 7^th of October up until now, 40 thousand children in Gaza are now orphans. The people of Gaza have lost about %3 of their population and %70 of them are women and children.”

*Murat Yılmaz presenting the Child Labor Report during the Press release.*

Yılmaz also announced that the foundation was preparing a report named Child Labor- Big hands, Small Hands and also stated that “According to the 2021 data from the International Labour Organization, 160 million children work, and 79 million children work in dangerous jobs.”

Also, in the meeting it was also announced that a campaign has been started in Gaza to sponsor 7 thousand orphans this Ramadan. Yılmaz called people to this campaign with the following: “You can sponsor an orphan with a monthly fee of 600 Tl, that’s 7.200 Tl a year.”

Yılmaz also mentioned the state of the children in Türkiye by stating that according to TÜİK figures, there are 500 thousand cases involving children being taken to security custody and 133 thousand children involved in crimes. Yılmaz also highlighted that drug, technology and gambling addition is becoming more prevalent among children.

İHH, YEÇED and others attended the press release.