A report broadcast on France 3’s 19/20 news
This report, broadcast on France 3’s 19/20 evening news, covers a citizen mobilisation organised by the NGO Humanité, Solidarité et Médecine (HuSoMe), founded by Dr Raphaël Pitti. The event, held on Sunday 28 September 2025 in Metz, aimed to help the orphans of Gaza. Through moving images, France 3 highlighted the commitment of HuSoMe and the many volunteers present, recalling the importance of humanitarian solidarity in a protracted crisis.
A wave of compassion in the heart of Moselle
On Sunday 28 September 2025, more than 200 people gathered to march in support of the orphans of Gaza. Organised by the NGO Humanité, Solidarité et Médecine (HuSoMe), founded by humanitarian doctor Raphaël Pitti, the event aimed to raise funds for the essential needs of children affected by the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
In a peaceful, reflective atmosphere, participants walked the route along the Moselle to the Porte des Allemands, showing their solidarity with a humanitarian cause often left in the shadows.
An urgent cause: helping children left to fend for themselves
Two months ago, the NGO HuSoMe opened an orphanage in the Gaza Strip to take in some thirty children who have lost their parents. Although the efforts are considerable, needs far exceed the resources available. The €2,000 raised through registrations for the march will help cover part of the running costs, but is not enough to pay the rent on the building, which amounts to €3,000 a month.
Dr Raphaël Pitti stressed the urgency: with a population reduced to survival, some children find themselves alone in the streets, looking for food and a little safety. The scale of the crisis leaves little room for indifference.
Local solidarity as international aid declines
At the end of the march, the organisers offered a meal and a raffle to keep the spirit of solidarity going. Many volunteers got involved: some, like Patrice, even sold produce from their garden for the association.
But this citizen mobilisation comes at a difficult time: institutional funding is being cut. The United States has suspended part of its aid (notably through USAID) and, in France, the humanitarian aid budget is reported to have fallen from €700 million to €400 million. This official disengagement makes the support of civil society all the more vital.
An appeal for generosity to keep the orphanage going
Faced with ongoing funding needs, the NGO HuSoMe is now appealing to everyone’s generosity. Donations will notably pay the six carers and the social workers who work with the children every day.
This march in Metz was not just a symbolic gesture: it reflects a deep conviction that in the darkest moments, solidarity remains an essential human response. For these children, every donation and every sign of support is an act of life.
