Spring Newsletter 2026
published: 1 April 2026
Dear supporters,
When ABCD was formally established in 1986, we could not have imagined that 40 years later the Palestinian-Israeli conflict would remain intractable, nor that our work would be even more necessary. Gaza has been destroyed, and conditions in the West Bank continue to deteriorate for our partners and the communities they serve.
As I write, the US/Israeli conflict with Iran is further destabilising the region, opening new theatres of war without resolving any of the long-standing challenges. None of this augurs well for Palestinians.
Against this backdrop, we bring you news of the eight projects currently supported by ABCD – six of them in refugee camps – all serving those in greatest need: children and their families living with disability in some of the most marginalised communities.
Development and growth of our projects is all but impossible in the current climate; simply opening the doors of our centres and seeing parents bring their children for therapy is no small achievement.
Nevertheless, our partners have had the vision to dream of an audiology centre that will help to deliver the precious gift of hearing to those who are living with treatable hearing loss. We are proud to have chosen this as our 40th anniversary project, Hope Through Hearing, and we are hopeful that you will help us make this dream come true.
We report on other significant achievements as well: notably the success of our YouTube educational channel, which means that families can access help and support even when it is unsafe to leave their homes.
It may seem naïve to speak of hope at this moment, but there is hope in solidarity, in integrity, and in faithful partnership expressed over many decades. That is why, despite the awful situation in the Middle East, we are celebrating our 40th anniversary this year. We believe we have a track record worth celebrating, just as we believe that peace and justice for Palestinians is achievable and will be realised one day.
Thank you for your support. I hope that we might see you in person at our 40th anniversary celebration in London in July, or at one of the other events planned for this year.
Daniel Burton
Chair of ABCD Trustees
News from Palestine
There are 19 refugee camps with 912,879 registered refugees living in the West Bank. Over the past 13 years, during our 40 years of working with children with disabilities in Palestine, ABCD has helped create, equip, guide and now support rehabilitation centres in six of these camps.
The charity grew from a partnership with the Bethlehem Arab Society for Rehabilitation (BASR), one of the two main rehab hospitals in the West Bank. We support their outreach programmes as well as the work of The Sheepfold, a centre for children with severe disabilities.
Our camps are:
- Al Arroub
- Deir Ammar
- Nur Shams
- Jalazone
- Al Am’ari
- Ein Beit Al Ma
Al Arroub
Al Arroub is home to 10,000 refugees and is located in the southern part of the West Bank, between Bethlehem and Hebron.
The centre provides services for 250 children with disabilities. The Al Arroub rehab centre became a partner of the charity in 2019, when ABCD helped with redecoration and reconstruction to create a more therapeutic space and to fund basic necessary physiotherapy equipment and play materials.
Deir Ammar
Situated near Ramallah, with 3,682 UN-registered refugees, Deir Ammar is the most recent of ABCD’s rehabilitation centres. ABCD has just approved $30K funding to establish an occupational therapy department and cover staffing costs for three years. Occupational therapy provides comprehensive benefits focused on helping individuals of all ages regain, maintain, or improve their ability to perform daily activities.
Nur Shams
In February last year, Nur Shams rehabilitation centre in the Northern West Bank was further damaged and closed as part of the enforced evacuation of the UNRWA-run camp, IDF troops taking over the centre for their use. Nur Shams has linked up with the Qaqun Charitable Society for the Deaf and Mute to collaborate in supporting children with mental and physical learning disabilities. It offers educational classes and a variety of special tools for all ages and levels, including a fully equipped sensory room.
We salute the staff for their resilience against the odds. From the rubble of destruction, a determination to continue supporting disabled children has emerged. None of this would be possible without your support – thank you.
Jalazone
Opened in 1948, based near Ramallah, and originally built for 3,500 displaced families, this camp now houses over 15,000 people in two square kilometres. Life for children in this camp is particularly harsh, with water supply often rationed alongside extreme poverty and overcrowding. Unemployment stands at 60%. In 2013, ABCD renovated the space, which was in dire need of refurbishment and equipment. Today, we continue to provide support such as occupational therapy, physiotherapy, and social activities.
Al Am’ari
Al Am’ari is one of the West Bank’s smallest but most densely populated refugee camps, where your donations have helped build a fully equipped centre providing vital care for children with complex physical and learning disabilities, including autism and Down syndrome. We are delighted to be able to announce the completion of the physio room in the Al Am’ari camp centre – supporting the rehabilitation of these children, which will help with living with life-limiting disabilities.
The Sheepfold Centre
The Sheepfold Centre in Beit Sahour continues to provide medications and physiotherapy to children and young people with disabilities in their homes. It is not advisable at present to bring them to the centre due to the war.
BASR
We have supported our long-term partner Bethlehem Arab Society for Rehabilitation for over 38 years, providing community-based outreach services stretching deep into remote rural areas. The outreach programme’s professionals and health workers operate through local community centres, schools and families.
Ein Beit Al Ma
This centre now has its ABCD-funded minibus, providing much-needed support for children in more remote areas and helping to directly improve access and overall rehabilitation outcomes.
Join the ABCD team at our 40th anniversary Service of Thanksgiving
When: 16 July 2026 – 6:30pm
Where: St. Botolph’s, Bishopsgate, London EC2M 3TL
Tickets: RSVP by emailing katie@abcdbethlehem.org.uk
Join us to mark our 40th year and raise vital funds for children with disabilities in Palestine. ABCD’s founder Val Jourdan and keynote speaker, Sir Vincent Fean, will share their reflections. The event will be followed by a reception with entertainment, food, wine, and plenty of cheer! Tickets are free, but limited to 150, so reserve your spot now or find out more.
The Palestine Relay 2026
To mark the launch of the Palestine Relay and raise funds for our Hope Through Hearing campaign, we came together on 28 March 2026 for a group charity walk in London.
We’re inviting supporters to sign up to cover a set number of miles of their choosing. Together, we can symbolically reach Bethlehem – a journey of 2,000+ miles, and raise vital funds for a new audiology centre in Al Am’ari.
“I hope you’ll join us and be part of something really special from the very beginning.” Anthony Glaister, ABCD Trustee and organiser
Win a Zaytoun gift box worth £50!
Take part in our ruby anniversary-themed quiz, and you could win a Zaytoun Gift Box worth £50. There are 40 questions, all of whose answers begin with the letters A, B, C, or D.
To take part, please request a quiz sheet by emailing katie@abcdbethlehem.org and send your answers in by Friday, 1 May.
Our thanks go to Zaytoun for their authentically sourced Palestinian produce.
Watch ABCD’s online learning series
A new learning series on YouTube, funded by ABCD, helps to support children with disabilities living in refugee camps due to challenging access to the health centres and, in some cases, impossible.
We thank designer Hanna Fanoun, who is based in Palestine and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Design and Applied Arts from Palestine Technical University.
- Watch the videos or find out more in our blog post
Support Alastair as he walks 130 miles for ABCD
Alastair’s brother Peter, his wife Deborah and Alastair.
“This walk brings together two things that are very close to my heart: a place with deep personal meaning, and a cause I care strongly about – the vital work being done by ABCD to support children with disabilities in Palestine”.
Trustee Alastair Harris celebrates his 65th birthday on a pilgrimage in aid of ABCD by retracing the steps of sixth-century Saint Cadfan along the Welsh Llwybr Cadfan pilgrimage route.
Join supporter Andrew as he walks from North Yorkshire to Norfolk
This Holy Week (29 March – 5 April 2026), supporter Andrew Laird will be undertaking a pilgrimage of 166 miles, which will cover a leg of ABCD’s 2,000-mile Palestine Relay. Thank you, Andrew!
Thank you Stephen!
For his 60th birthday, Stephen J Preston from Wales is supporting ABCD’s work with a musical fundraiser. Steve’s new play is about refugees coming to Wales.
His recent poetry and music evening raised £1100. Thank you, Stephen.
Want to support our work?
Would you like to fundraise for us through your skills or your community? We have plenty of great ideas for you – why not organise a fundraising Palestinian lunch, and we can supply the recipes.
Contact katie@abcdbethem.org for more information