Governor Gavin Newsom:

The world is watching as a severe humanitarian crisis continues in Gaza, where children are facing escalating levels of acute malnutrition and lack essential medical care. According to a joint report by UNICEF and the World Food Programme (WFP) released on May 12, 2025, approximately 71,000 children and over 17,000 mothers are in urgent need of treatment for acute malnutrition. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) has classified the situation as "catastrophic hunger," with 470,000 people in Gaza facing this extreme condition.

As the world's fifth-largest economy, California possesses both the resources and the moral responsibility to act. While federal efforts remain stalled, California can lead by launching a focused initiative to rapidly deliver life-saving nutrition and medical aid to children in Gaza.

We call on you, Governor Newsom, to immediately establish a California Global Child Relief Fund as a public-private partnership designed to deliver emergency humanitarian aid to children in Gaza.

Why this matters:

1. Children are at immediate risk.
   The UNICEF and WFP report indicates that 71,000 children are in urgent need of treatment for acute malnutrition, and 470,000 people in Gaza are facing catastrophic hunger.
   
   
2. California has the capacity and moral obligation to lead.
   As a global economic leader and humanitarian actor, California has both the financial resources and the responsibility to act swiftly, especially when federal intervention is delayed.
   
   
3. This is a legally and politically sound path forward.
   A California-based fund partnering with experienced NGOs offers a practical, transparent, and defensible way to deliver aid through established channels with proven effectiveness in crisis zones. This does not violate the power of the federal government, and any challenges could take a long time to make their way through the courts. In the meantime, California could disperse aid to international NGOs with a presence in California (i.e., UNICEF, Save the Children, World Food Programme, Doctors Without Borders, and others with a strong track record of aiding children in crises).
   
   
4. Governor Newsom, this is your moment to lead.
   Taking this initiative will demonstrate bold leadership and a deep commitment to humanitarian values at a critical moment.

Governor Newsom, we urge you to use your executive authority to establish the California Global Child Relief Fund today. Children in Gaza cannot wait. California must lead.