Turkey’s First Lady, Emine Erdogan, has appealed to Melania Trump, calling on her to raise her voice for children suffering in Gaza.
In a heartfelt letter, Mrs. Erdogan praised Melania Trump for her past support of children affected by the war in Ukraine and asked her to extend that same compassion to Palestinian children. She described Gaza as a “children’s cemetery,” urging, “We must unite our voices and strength against this injustice.”
Her message comes amid alarming reports of famine and severe food shortages in Gaza. Humanitarian assessments show that nearly half a million people are facing starvation, with more than 132,000 young children at risk of dying from malnutrition. One in three children there is already acutely malnourished.
Mrs. Erdogan’s letter paints a painful picture, noting that shrouds bearing the words “unknown baby” now cover countless children. She encouraged Melania Trump not only to speak up, but also to directly appeal to Israel’s leadership to help end the suffering.
While she usually focuses on environmental work, the Turkish First Lady has previously written similar letters to world leaders’ spouses during humanitarian crises, including Syria’s war. Her current appeal reflects the scale of the devastation in Gaza, where more than 90% of homes aren’t damaged or destroyed, basic services have collapsed, and tens of thousands of people have been killed since the conflict began.
For children in Gaza, the crisis is no longer just about war—it is about survival.