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Children In Gaza Make A Powerful Tribute To Japan's Tsunami Victims

Children In Gaza Make A Powerful Tribute To Japan's Tsunami Victims
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By 

World Reporter, The Huffington Post

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Palestinian children living in the war-ravaged Gaza Strip face myriad problems of their own. But on Monday they gathered to highlight the sufferings of others with a powerful tribute to the victims of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

On March 11, 2011, a 9.0 magnitude earthquake unleashed a massive tsunami that engulfed Japan's coastline and triggered a nuclear meltdown at the Fukushima power plant. This Monday, over 1,000 school children gathered to fly kites decorated with Japanese words and images in the south Gaza city of Khan Younis to mark the fourth anniversary of the disaster.

The kite-flying event was organized by the United Nations' agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) and held jointly with the Japanese city of Kamaishi, which was devastated by the tsunami. UNRWA has organized a commemoration in Gaza of Japan's triple-disaster each year since 2012. “The children participating here today embody the generous spirit of the Palestinian people, empathizing with others despite the horrible and disastrous conditions they themselves face on a daily basis,“ UNRWA operations director Robert Turner said in a press statement.

Mohammed Abed/ AFP/ Getty Images
Palestinian school children fly kites to show solidarity with Japan, near a Japanese-funded housing project in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip on March 9, 2015.
Mohammed Abed/ AFP/ Getty Images
A Palestinian school girl wearing a banner with Japanese writing gathers with fellow classmates in solidarity with Japan in Khan Younis, Gaza on March 9, 2015.
Mohammed Abed/ AFP/ Getty Images
Palestinian school children hold a kite as they gather to show solidarity with Japan in Khan Younis, Gaza on March 9, 2015.
Adel Hana/ AP
Palestinian students prepare to fly kites during a commemoration to mark the fourth anniversary of Japan's tsunami, in Khan Younis, Gaza on March 9, 2015.
Adel Hana/ AP
A Palestinian student prepares to fly her kite during a commemoration to mark the fourth anniversary of Japan's tsunami, in Khan Younis, Gaza on March 9, 2015.
Adel Hana/ AP
Palestinian students perform the "Dabka," a traditional Palestinian dance, during a commemoration to mark the fourth anniversary of Japan's tsunami in Khan Younis, Gaza on March 9, 2015.
Mohammed Abed/ AFP/ Getty Images
Palestinian school children fly kites to show solidarity with Japan in Khan Younis, Gaza on March 9, 2015.
Mohammed Abed/ AFP/ Getty Images
Palestinian school children fly kites to show solidarity with Japan in Khan Younis, Gaza on March 9, 2015.
Mohammed Abed/ AFP/ Getty Images
A Palestinian school girl looks through a kite during a gathering to show solidarity with Japan in Khan Younis, Gaza on March 9, 2015.

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Before You Go

The Fisherman Of Fukushima
(01 of08)
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In this Monday, Aug. 26, 2013 photo, fisherman Fumio Suzuki stands on his boat Ebisu Maru before the start of fishing in the waters off Iwaki, about 40 kilometers (25 miles) south of the tsunami-crippled Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant, Japan. (AP Photo/Koji Ueda) (credit:AP)
(02 of08)
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In this Monday, Aug. 26, 2013 photo, fisherman Choji Suzuki stands on the Ebisu Maru before the start of fishing in the waters off Iwaki, about 40 kilometers (25 miles) south of the tsunami-crippled Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant, Japan. (AP Photo/Koji Ueda) (credit:AP)
(03 of08)
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In this Monday, Aug. 26, 2013 photo, fisherman Fumio Suzuki cleans the deck of his boat Ebisu Maru before the start of fishing in the waters off Iwaki, about 40 kilometers (25 miles) south of the tsunami-crippled Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant, Japan. (AP Photo/Koji Ueda) (credit:AP)
(04 of08)
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In this Aug. 26, 2013 photo, fishermen Choji Suzuki, left, and his son Fumio sort out fish they caught aboard their boat Ebisu Maru in the waters off Iwaki, about 40 kilometers (25 miles) south of the tsunami-crippled Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant, Japan. (AP Photo/Koji Ueda) (credit:AP)
(05 of08)
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In this Aug. 26, 2013 photo, fisherman Fumio Suzuki watches the sunrise aboard his boat Ebisu Maru before the star of fishing in the waters off Iwaki, about 40 kilometers (25 miles) south of the tsunami-crippled Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant, Japan. (AP Photo/Koji Ueda) (credit:AP)
(06 of08)
Open Image Modal
In this Aug. 26, 2013 photo, fisherman Fumio Suzuki sorts out fish he caught aboard his boat Ebisu Maru in the waters off Iwaki, about 40 kilometers (25 miles) south of the tsunami-crippled Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant, Japan. (AP Photo/Koji Ueda) (credit:AP)
(07 of08)
Open Image Modal
In this Aug. 26, 2013 photo, fisherman Choji Suzuki navigates the Ebisu Maru before fishing in the waters off Iwaki, about 40 kilometers (25 miles) south of the tsunami-crippled Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant, Japan. (AP Photo/Koji Ueda) (credit:AP)
(08 of08)
Open Image Modal
Fisherman Choji Suzuki sorts out fish he caught aboard his boat Ebisu Maru in the waters off Iwaki, about 40 kilometers (25 miles) south of the tsunami-crippled Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant, Monday, Aug. 26, 2013. (AP Photo/Koji Ueda) (credit:AP)
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