Every three minutes, a child is born with cleft lip and/or palate

Cleft lip and palate is one of the most common birth defects; one out of 500 newborn children is affected. Many children from families in developing countries often do not have access to a qualified medical treatment. Deutsche Cleft Kinderhilfe funds the necessary surgeries and followup therapies they need.

Without treatment, cleft children are severely impaired in their daily lives. They are often ostracized because of their appearance, and live on the margins of society with their families. Depending on the type and severity of the cleft, they face severe functional impairments. The children cannot swallow, eat or drink properly. As babies, they are often mal- and undernourished, making them susceptible to infectious diseases. In the worst case, their lives can be endangered as a result.

Your donation gives cleft children a chance to live healthy, happy lives.

Donation form

How a child with a cleft condition develops depends largely on the country they are born in. In the countries where we provide cleft aid, access to qualified cleft treatment for children with cleft lip and palate is not a given. Many have to wait years for surgery, living with a visible cleft lip and/or an open palate. Our local teams serve as a reliable point of contact for these children and their families. You can find the countries where we support patients with cleft conditions here.