From crisis to care in Gaza
Before the escalation of violence, Ibrahim* was a construction worker.
His modest income barely covered his family's needs, but their tight-knit community offered a sense of belonging and support.
The conflict, however, forced him, his wife Asmaa*, and their five children to flee their home in Gaza City's Al Zaytoun neighbourhood in the Gaza Strip. They found refuge in a crowded shelter in Dier Al Balah City, sharing cramped spaces and communal facilities with hundreds of other families in what was once a school. Families crowded into empty classrooms while others pitched tents in the playground.
Ibrahim and Asmaa, who suffers from respiratory illness, struggle to care for two of their children. Their daughter, Amna*, 19, was experiencing difficulty after being deprived of the medication that helped her cope with mental and visual disabilities. Their son, Mohammed*, 10, is at risk of renal failure and, though he does not yet need dialysis at this stage of his illness, requires special care and access to safe food and clean water.
With support from the Government of Canada through the Humanitarian Coalition, Islamic Relief Canada is delivering hot meals, fresh food parcels, ready-to-eat meals, clean drinking water and access to several other services for families in Ibrahim and Asmaa's shelter.
Asmaa has started using some ready-to-eat meals to avoid the smoke and dust of the cooking fire that had been making her sick. Her son Mohammed now has access to clean drinking water, improving his health dramatically, and Amna has access to satisfying meals that keep her healthier and happier.
As they care for their family, Ibrahim and Asmaa welcome the deliveries of clean water and nutritious food, grateful for the lifeline that allows them to rebuild their lives amidst the uncertainty of tomorrow.
Learn more about our ongoing response in Gaza here.
*Names were changed for security reasons