In times of war, when families lose their homes, their sense of safety, and even the ability to protect themselves from the cold, a blanket becomes more than a basic item it becomes warmth, dignity, and a sense of security. Across displacement camps and shelters in the Gaza Strip, thousands of families are enduring harsh winter nights in tents and overcrowded spaces, where children often struggle to sleep due to the cold.

Amid these severe humanitarian conditions, Al Amal Training Society for Women, Children, and Persons with Disabilities implemented a humanitarian initiative to distribute 1,000 blankets to the most vulnerable families. The initiative aimed to ease the suffering of displaced households and provide protection from harsh winter conditions, with particular attention to children, older persons, and those most at risk.

This intervention was not merely the distribution of relief items, but a clear expression of solidarity. Each blanket delivered carried reassurance that these families have not been forgotten. For mothers staying awake through the night worrying about their children, the blankets offered a measure of relief. For children, they provided warmth and comfort. For families who have lost nearly everything, they represented a message of hope and human connection.

The distribution process followed transparent humanitarian criteria to ensure fair access while preserving the dignity of beneficiaries, at a time when living conditions continue to deteriorate due to prolonged displacement and economic hardship.

Al Amal Training Society reaffirmed that this activity forms part of its ongoing emergency response efforts, and emphasized its commitment to expanding humanitarian assistance to reach as many affected families as possible throughout the winter season.

Every blanket distributed is more than material aid it is warmth for a child, reassurance for a mother, and strength for a family to endure another difficult night.

Dareen is a Palestinian 8-year-old little girl, who grow up in a standard Gazan family that was haunted by so many ghosts. poverty, occupation, war, constant lack of livelihood needs, but for her, the worst ghost of all these, was domestic violence. The family suffered domestic violence for some time. 13 years, the same scene at dinner, where the mother was mistreated and beaten along with her children. Dareen lived 6 of those years watching what supposed to be her source of security, assaulting both her mother and siblings, which caused her to be withdrawn, isolated, and partially disconnected. Due to her isolation, and her preference of loneliness, her medical diagnosis of Diabetes was delayed, and it was challenging for some time to get her condition to be stable.

Years go by, her suffering becomes complicated, more loneliness, aggression, and isolation. In December 20^th of 2023 the war caused the family to displace from the North of Gaza, to Rafah to seek protection, and a safer shelter, staying in the displacement camps of Rafah and suffering all kinds of hardships. Few days later, the father decided to abandon the family and leave for good, leaving the Mother (Siham -32 years old) in charge of the family, carrying the responsibility of 5 children: Rida -6 years, Ghazal -14 years, Jamal -11 years, Abdelrahman -15 years, and Dareen -8 years. Being a separated mother and run a family in the worst times of the war was a very difficult thing to do.

Through an exclusive interview with Siham –The Mother-, she told us that having Dareen as the most special need member of the family was challenging especially during the war, finding mates to play with, and games that suits her medical condition was hard. And Siham said ” The Diabetes, made it harder for her to participate in the normal children activates. However, when LIFE Psychosocial Support team showed up at our camp, they have shown her the attention she needs, they even encouraged her to participate in the group games and activates with other kids.”

She also added ” As I was watching her participating, it was highlighted to my attention that my little girl likes group activates even more, and I found out that Dareen is a very competitive spirit, and she was very excited sharing her winning stories in the games she played during the activates, especially the game of Flying Plates, where she won 2 times in a row, and she was always looking forward to the next day LIFE’s team coming again”. Siham told us that it is not only Dareen, but also her other children showed a noticeable ability to express their emotions, especially after the second and third sessions, and also an obvious decrease in the signs of anxiety and stress, they were less scared, less worried, and the psychical support activities had a direct effect on them.

Siham was smiling as she was telling us how happy she was after finally seeing her daughter excited about something, especially after all the hardships they went through as a family, and she can’t wait to see Dareen in her next adventure.

In the heart of one of Gaza’s overcrowded displacement camps, 11-year-old Anas and his family struggle daily to survive the food shortages and the dry living conditions. Displaced from their home due to the ongoing War, after losing their father. Anas’s mother could not provide regular meals for her children.
Anas’s father was a shopkeeper, lost his livelihood when his store was destroyed. With no income and limited humanitarian aid, the family often skipped meals or survived on scraps. And after losing his father, life became pretty much unbearable. Anas, who was once an energetic boy, grew weak and struggled to focus. And as the oldest boy, he needed to persevere every day to secure his family their daily needs of water and food, and despite his daily struggle to do that, he couldn’t successfully get a meal every day. Rana –his mother says, ” We would go days without proper food. Seeing my children hungry broke my heart, but we had no choice.”
When the hot-meal distribution program reached their camp, everything changed. Anas’s family received nutritious, freshly cooked meals daily, rice, lentils, and fresh vegetables. The relief was immediate. Anas started to gradually regain his strength and could play with other children again.
This project did more than fill stomachs; it restored dignity, kindled hope, and whispered to families like Anas’s: You are seen. You matter. As we look ahead, we carry their gratitude in our hearts as a fuel to keep serving, keep fighting, and keep believing in a future where no child goes to bed hungry.

Seven-year-old Malek had always loved helping his mother prepare lunch at home. A home that is long gone. After his family was forced to escape their house in the north of Gaza due to the constant bombardment in their neighborhood, they found shelter in one of the many crowded displacement camps with very little access to food, water, or privacy. Days passed with only dry bread and canned food, and Malek began to withdraw, quiet, anxious, and often in tears, tears of hunger.

Then came the hot meal. Through the Hot-Meal Distribution Relief Project that is funded by LIFE ONG, Malik and his family received their first warm, home-cooked meal in over a week. rice, pasta, soups, and meals with fresh vegetables. “Mama, it smells like home,” he whispered with a happy smile as he tasted the food.

That small moment brought back a piece of Malik’s lost childhood. A sense of safety, warmth, and care. Since then, He eagerly awaits near the food distribution line every day, greeting volunteers with a wave and a spark in his eyes.

For Malik and hundreds like him, this project is more than just a meal or food. It’s dignity, hope, and a reminder that they are not forgotten.