Turkey’s First Lady, Emine Erdogan, has appealed to Melania Trump to advocate for children impacted by the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Mrs. Erdogan acknowledged the former U.S. First Lady’s previous support for children affected by the conflict in Ukraine, urging her to “extend the advocacy” to Palestinian children.
In a letter released by the Turkish presidency on Saturday, Mrs. Erdogan described Gaza as a “children’s cemetery,” imploring Mrs. Trump to: “unite our voices and strength against this injustice.”
This appeal comes as UN-backed food security experts report that half a million people in Gaza City are facing famine, with 132,000 children at risk of malnutrition.
“The phrase ‘unknown baby’ written on the shrouds of thousands of Gazan children opens irreparable wounds in our consciences,” Mrs. Erdogan stated in her letter.
The letter further requests Mrs. Trump to “show the same sensitivity to Gaza that you have shown to Ukrainian children who have lost their lives in the war.”
Mrs. Erdogan also encouraged Mrs. Trump to directly appeal to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to “end to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.”
Earlier this month, Mrs. Trump sent a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin, appealing to him to consider the welfare of children, although without referencing any specific cases.
The Turkish First Lady typically focuses on environmental issues, a commitment that has garnered praise from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
However, Mrs. Erdogan has previously written letters to the spouses of world leaders, including in 2016 on behalf of Syrians affected by the civil war, and condemning Israel’s actions in Gaza in March.
The letter was published following a recent report highlighting the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza.
The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report confirmed the presence of famine in Gaza City and surrounding areas, warning that over 640,000 people will face “catastrophic conditions” between mid-August and the end of September.
The IPC’s report on Friday highlighted the particularly severe impact of food shortages on children, with approximately one in three in Gaza suffering from acute malnutrition.
The report also projects that malnutrition will threaten the lives of 132,000 children under the age of five by June 2026.
Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry has reported that 114 of the 281 people who have died from malnutrition are children.
Israel denies the existence of famine in Gaza. It also accuses IPC experts of bias, altering their famine assessment methods, and relying on data provided by Hamas. The IPC has refuted these criticisms.
The report is released amidst preparations by Israel to launch a new military offensive aimed at occupying Gaza City.
Gaza’s health ministry reported 61 deaths in the past 24 hours following Israeli attacks. It stated that eight people, including two children, have died from malnutrition in the same period.
In one attack on a displacement camp in the southern city of Khan Younis, 19 people were killed, according to Palestinian news agency Wafa.
Israel’s military campaign in Gaza was launched in response to the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, which resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and the taking of 251 hostages.
According to the health ministry, at least 62,122 people have been killed in Gaza since then.
The majority of Gaza’s population has been displaced multiple times; with estimates suggesting that over 90% of homes have been damaged or destroyed; and the healthcare, water, sanitation, and hygiene systems have collapsed.
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