The Fund for Victims of Terror is the first responder for families impacted by acts of terror and violence.
It provides immediate grants to victims, as needed, within 48 hours. The funds are distributed to all Israeli citizens irrespective of race, religion or ethnicity.
During the Fund's 20-year history, until October 7, the Fund had served approximately 9,000 families. Since October 7, the Fund has served an additional 8,500 families and counting.
The grant is two-pronged, serving the needs of the victims as follows:
- Immediate needs such as accommodation, food, clothing, funeral expenses and emotional and psychological support.
- Long-term needs such as ongoing psychological support, extensive rehabilitation programs and resilience-building camps for children and teenagers.
The Jewish Agency's Fund for Victims of Terror, supported by Keren Hayesod-UIA and the Jewish Federations of North America, responded immediately after October 7, distributing hundreds of financial grants to victims within 48 hours of the unprecedented attacks. As of July 2024, 7,987 immediate grants and 1,265 long-term grants have been distributed to victims of October 7.
Resilience and Recovery Programs Supported By The Fund
Through the Fund for Victims of Terror, the United Israel Appeal is working to rebuild lives, instil resilience and support the ongoing needs of the People of Israel as they recover from this unimaginable trauma. Your support has been a beacon of hope for the victims - including hundreds of bereaved families, families of hostages, displaced families and victims of post-trauma from the music festivals - enabling us to deliver immediate assistance and action a range of programs for long-term rehabilitation, including:
- Immediate Support: Providing critical assistance to individuals who have been injured, returned hostages, those who have lost family members, and people whose homes were severely damaged or destroyed.
- Emergency and Safety Needs: Residents of 23 regional councils in southern and northern Israel have received urgent support to ensure their immediate safety and well-being.
- Long-term Support for Traumatised Teens: Offering interventions for teens who have experienced trauma, helping them prepare for their future service in the IDF and navigate their experiences of horror and upheaval.
- Support for Business Owners: Providing immediate financial support, including grants and low-interest or interest-free loans, to business owners who were evacuated or called up to the reserves.
- Psychological Rehabilitation: Resilience-building programs and psychological rehabilitation have been initiated in the Gaza Envelope communities, including Kfar Aza, Yated, Magen, Yesha, Mivtachim, Shlomit, Ein Habesor, Nir Am, Be’eri, and Or Ha’ner.
- Respite Camps for Children: Organising camps to help children who are victims of terror process their trauma, build resilience, and enjoy games, activities, and excursions.
Communities2Gether
In 2024, The Jewish Agency, supported by Keren Hayesod-UIA, established Communities2Gether, a global partnership to support the numerous Israeli towns and kibbutzim impacted by the October 7 attacks and the ensuing war, in close coordination with the new Tkuma Government Authority and local municipalities.
Communities2Gether is a three-year comprehensive rehabilitation program aiming to rebuild ten Gaza envelope Kibbutzim and Moshavim and restore their communal resilience. The program focuses on:
- Providing ongoing psychological and emotional rehabilitation
- Rebuilding infrastructure
- Mending social bonds
- Fostering lasting international connections
A key element of this program is the offering of psychological support which includes communal programs for grief processing and the repurposing of physical community spaces. This aims to ensure a strong foundation for collective rehabilitation for the impacted community.
Additional Support Delivered Through our Core Projects
In addition to the assistance provided by the Fund for Victims of Terror, UIA is also delivering support to victims of the October 7 attacks and those suffering ongoing trauma through our core projects:
- Youth Futures Program: Vulnerable children and their families are receiving community-based interventions through mentorship programs to help them overcome their challenges. This includes families who have been struggling with resilience even before the war and those directly affected by the October 7 attacks.
- Support for Displaced Immigrants: Providing housing, hot meals, security measures, and structured Hebrew classes for immigrants who were evacuated from absorption centres and housed in temporary residences.
- Support for Amigour Home Senior Citizens: Essential supplies have been distributed to all bomb shelters, food baskets are being provided, especially in high-risk areas, and psychological treatment is being offered to senior citizens.
Rebuilding Lives and Recovering from Trauma
The needs of the victims of October 7 are immense, and ongoing support is crucial to sustain and expand these vital programs. UIA is committed to standing by the People of Israel and ensuring they receive the help they need, but we cannot do it alone.
Your continued generosity will enable us to:
- Rebuild communities together.
- Extend our psychological and trauma support services.
- Provide long-term support for teens and children affected by terror.
- Ensure business owners can rebuild and sustain their livelihoods.
- Continue to support the displaced and most vulnerable members of our community.
Together, we can make a lasting impact and help Israel heal and thrive again.
8,395
households received grants from the Funds for Victims of Terror
6,468
calls to the FVOT hotline
8,526
FVOT grants distributed already
40 mil NIS
relief to regional councils in the South and North and loans to small businesses