Action around Bethlehem Children with Disability (ABCD Bethlehem) has appointed the vicar of Oldham the Reverend Canon Daniel Burton as its next chair.

He leads the board after eight years as a trustee, amid continued attacks by Israeli armed forces on refugee camps in Gaza.

These raids are damaging the charity’s centres in the region and “rendered services untenable, with the psychological impact on children and young adults incalculable”, said ABCD Bethlehem.

The charity has recently used an extra £50,000 of funding to support its five centres and provide trauma therapy in the region, as well as deliver food parcels, essentials and medication to families “who have lost their livelihoods”.

Burton is a former volunteer in a children’s home in Ramallah and replaces Val Jourdan, who founded the charity 40 years ago.

“I am grateful for the opportunity given to me by the trustees to lead the organisation into the next chapter of its history,” he said.

“I’m excited about the role and fully committed to helping the charity to continue the vital role it plays for vulnerable families of disabled children in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

“However, I’m also aware of the challenges that lie ahead in being able to adapt our services to respond to the current crisis (and its inevitable aftermath), as well as engaging existing and new supporters of the charity to ensure donations reach the level needed to fund and equip rehabilitation centres, as well as recruit and train the best therapists.”

He added: “I am sad to say that the work of ABCD Bethlehem is more necessary today than at any point in its four-decade long history – and it is likely to be much-needed for the foreseeable future.

“To help future proof the charity for generations to come, we are currently reviewing
our strategic priorities but we hope to expand our work to more refugee camps and to offer
respite facilities for families caring for children with disabilities.”

---