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How Islamic Relief is helping Gaza this winter

Home How Islamic Relief is helping Gaza this winter
November 6, 2026 Gaza , Occupied Palestinian Territory -

Every year, Islamic Relief’s Winterisation Programme helps vulnerable people around the world to keep safe and warm during the coldest months.

Last winter, we reached more than 89,900 people in 19 countries and territories with vital aid, including warm clothes and blankets, firewood and food parcels. Cash support is becoming an increasingly important part of our winter distributions as it enables families to buy what they most need.

In Gaza, distributing aid remains extremely challenging. Despite everything, our staff and partners are delivering daily aid and constantly reviewing processes and conditions on the ground to ensure your donations can reach people in need both safely and reliably.

Here, we explain how winter heaps extra pressure on Palestinians already experiencing danger and extreme hardship in Gaza, and how you can help through Islamic Relief.

Why does winter make life harder for families in Gaza?

Nearly everyone in Gaza is displaced. Many people are living in tents, crowded shelters or makeshift shelters on the enclave’s streets and beaches.

Despite the announcement of a ceasefire, families are grappling with ongoing attacks, shortages of essential items, and profound uncertainty around almost every aspect of daily life.

Winter brings added hardship as temperatures in Gaza can fall as low as 6 degrees centigrade at night, though wind and heavy rain can make it feel even colder. Flooding at this time of year can submerge tents with water and raw sewage. The winter months leave families cold, wet and at even greater risk of illness.

Israel continues to tightly restrict what can enter Gaza, resulting in massive quantities of aid being unable to reach those most in need and worsening the humanitarian situation as winter approaches.

Families are living in torn tents which cannot be replaced as more durable shelter materials are restricted. Gaza’s electricity supply has been cut off, leaving people reliant on generators – but there are severe fuel shortages, making it hard to heat homes or keep vital services such as healthcare running. The price of engine oil for generators has rocketed to $900 per litre.

How will Islamic Relief support people in Gaza this winter?

To help vulnerable families prepare for and cope with the winter season, Islamic Relief will provide one-time unconditional cash assistance to displaced people in shelters across Gaza.

They can use this cash to buy whatever they need most to get them through winter – things like warm clothes, heating materials like firewood and gas, and food parcels or medical bills.

Why is Islamic Relief providing cash?

Cash support is an effective, fast and dignified means of assisting vulnerable people. It allows them to choose the goods and services they need most; supporting their dignity while also promoting local economies. In Gaza, where the availability and price of items fluctuates daily, this flexibility is vital.

This also provides vital liquidity at a time when the crisis has destroyed people’s livelihoods and most people no longer have a reliable source of income – even when items are available in markets, many families do not have the cash to buy them.

We provide cash throughout our winterisation and other seasonal programmes, including our global Ramadan and qurbani distributions, in many countries around the world, but it can be particularly important in crisis contexts where markets and humanitarian access are disrupted.

How does it work?

We use an electronic payment system to distribute cash to the digital wallets of people in need in Gaza. These wallets work similarly to a mobile banking app. Instead of receiving physical cash through a distribution event, people we support receive the approved amount directly into their wallet and are notified once the funds have arrived. This process makes it safer for the vulnerable people receiving it, and means we can ensure the cash goes where it is intended.

The cash in the digital wallet can then be redeemed to buy goods at a wide range of local shops and businesses.

Do people need smartphones to receive the cash?

Many families in Gaza do not have smartphones or reliable access to electricity. Our cash assistance mechanism has been designed to operate in challenging humanitarian contexts, so people can access digital wallets without smartphones via simple SMS.

This payment system is already widely used by United Nations (UN) agencies and humanitarian organisations operating in Gaza and other emergency settings because it provides a secure, efficient, and accessible way to deliver assistance while reducing the risks associated with physical cash distributions.

How do you decide who receives aid?

Everywhere we work, including Gaza, we always prioritise the most vulnerable people. This includes the poorest families and marginalised or otherwise underserved groups such as older people, people with disabilities, widowed mothers, orphaned children and displaced people.

We are part of the UN cluster system, which ensures coordination between humanitarian organisations and helps identify people who are most in need. In Gaza, where effectively the whole population is in desperate need of support, we work with this system and our partners to identify shelters and communities we anticipate being worst affected by winter’s conditions. Within these, we’ll carry out assessments to ensure we provide support in the most effective and impactful way.

What are the challenges of delivering aid in Gaza right now?

Despite the terrible suffering, Israel’s blockade remains in place, which continues to severely restrict aid, people, and goods from entering or leaving Gaza. This includes even basic essentials such as some medicines and shelter materials and prevents sick patients leaving for vital treatment. The restrictions on fuel also cause huge challenges for hospitals, water and sanitation systems, and humanitarian operations.  Israel’s ‘dual-use’ list means that almost anything can be denied entry – sometimes this includes paper and pencils needed for schoolchildren and items needed for any kind of large-scale recovery and reconstruction. Tight restrictions have also been imposed on cash entering Gaza, creating a liquidity crisis which, along with the collapse of Gaza’s banking sector, is impacting humanitarian delivery.

The Israeli military has also expanded its full control of territory inside Gaza, restricting humanitarian work in many areas.  Persistent violations of the ceasefire hamper relief efforts as attacks against civilians continue and humanitarian workers face daily risks in an unpredictable security landscape. Almost 600 aid workers have been killed by Israel’s assault on Gaza since October 2023, making it the most dangerous place in the world to deliver aid.

Recent Israeli legislation limiting the registration of international non-governmental organisations is also severely impeding the humanitarian response.

How is Islamic Relief navigating this situation?

Islamic Relief staff and partners in Gaza are doing everything they can to keep delivering aid in extremely difficult and dangerous conditions. Our staff and partners are facing the same challenges as the communities we serve – they are also displaced, grieving and trying to feed their families. Every day, our team adapts its plans and activities depending on the latest security developments and what is available in the markets. 

Despite the huge challenges, throughout this crisis they have continued to find a way to deliver vital aid.

What happens if plans for the Winter Programme have to change?

Our plan to provide cash payments is based on the current security situation, humanitarian context, and operating environment in Gaza – all of which remain highly dynamic and unpredictable.

If the security situation, access, population movements, market conditions, or other operational factors change significantly in the coming months, we may need to adjust how assistance is delivered.

Our staff and partners will continue to closely monitor the situation and make any necessary adjustments to ensure assistance is delivered safely and effectively, while prioritising the wellbeing of affected communities, staff and partners.

Beyond winter support, what is Islamic Relief doing to help Palestinians in Gaza?

Islamic Relief is working with other local and international non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to support people in desperate need in Gaza.

One key project is providing healthcare for pregnant women, new mothers and their babies. The women, many of whom are displaced, are receiving antenatal care services, vitamins and medicine.

We are also supporting eight temporary learning centres for displaced children who have missed years of school. We are rehabilitating and equipping centres, training teachers, and providing psychosocial support for traumatised children. Hundreds of primary and kindergarten-age children attend classes in a range of different subjects.

Your donations are helping families manage a crippling food crisis, making it possible for us to provide hot meals to displaced people and distribute canned meat.

We are also supporting over 25,000 orphaned children and their carers though regular sponsorship payments that enable them to pay for essentials such as food, shelter materials and healthcare.

Islamic Relief has been delivering aid in Gaza throughout this crisis and has been supporting Palestinians in need since 1997. We also continue to advocate for a fair future for Palestinians, and for an end to Israel’s illegal occupation which drives poverty and injustice and strips people of their dignity and fundamental human rights. 

How can I help Gaza?

Please donate to our Palestine Emergency Appeal today. Despite huge challenges, through Islamic Relief your donations are still a lifeline for people in desperate need.

Editor’s note: The main image on this article is from December 2025 and shows hot meals being prepared for distribution in Gaza.

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Zia Salik

Interim Director of Islamic Relief UK

Zia Salik was appointed Interim Director of Islamic Relief UK in 2025, and brings with him over 18 years of third sector experience. He has held several leadership roles within Islamic Relief UK, including National Events Coordinator, National Community Fundraising Manager, Head of Fundraising, and Deputy Director. Zia has led national fundraising strategies, managed large-scale campaigns and events, and contributed significantly to volunteer development, donor engagement and public outreach. 

As Interim Director, Zia oversees multiple teams and contributes to strategic planning, operational leadership and organisational growth. He is recognised for his expertise in major donor management, public speaking, media engagement and community fundraising. Zia has been instrumental in building strong community networks and delivering impactful campaigns.

Before joining Islamic Relief, Zia served as Programmes Manager at Humber All Nations Alliance, where he led organisational growth, project delivery and funding proposals.

Zia is a seasoned leader committed to social justice, who brings a collaborative, mission-driven approach to his work, helping to amplify voices and maximise impact in the charity sector.

Nadeem Malik

Interim CEO of Islamic Relief Worldwide (IRW) and Managing Director of Humanitarian Academy for Development (HAD)

Nadeem has a wealth of experience from the charity, statutory and private sectors. He is the Managing Director of HAD (a division of IRW) which is a centre of excellence seeking to empower the humanitarian sector and maximise its effectiveness and from October 2025 will serve as our interim CEO. 

Before joining Islamic Relief, for nearly a decade at the General Medical Council — a globally recognised professional regulator — Nadeem managed strategic relationships with Chief Medical Officers and senior leaders. Prior to that, he served as the UK Director of Islamic Help, engaging closely with many international non-governmental organisations and playing a key role in fundraising and media activities.

In 2000, Nadeem was admitted as a solicitor. He spent nearly 8 years as a Partner at a law firm specialising in employment, regulatory and charity law. He has published papers, including in the Modern Law Review, and chapters in books.

Nadeem is deeply committed to strengthening civil society organisations and the charity sector, and throughout his career has focused on improving foundations for future generations and building strong networks. Nadeem has particular expertise working in matters of Learning and Development, especially personal and professional development, combining Islamic principles with modern techniques and interventions. He is also especially interested in psychological perspectives and cognitive distortions. He has designed and delivered training to thousands of people for nearly 3 decades.

As well as individual development and growth, Nadeem has spent 20 years working with organisations to manage and lead people to improve outcomes and efficiencies. He is a Consultant Coach, qualified at ILM Level 5 in Effective Coaching and Mentoring and ILM Level 7 in Executive and Senior Leadership Coaching. He was Chair of the Independent Advisory Group for the Professional Standards Department of West Midlands Police for 4 years, where he was awarded recognition for his ‘Outstanding Work.’

Saqeb Mueen

Director of External Relations and Advocacy

Saqeb joined Islamic Relief in 2025, bringing with him extensive experience in strategic communications and policy engagement. He served for more than two decades at the Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies (RUSI), including eight years as Director of Communications, where he led high-impact media campaigns and worked with major international organisations including the European Union, NATO as well as national governments. Saqeb was also the first Head of Communications for Tech Against Terrorism, an online counter-terrorist organisation backed by the United Nations, where he developed and established its public relations capabilities. Saqeb has advised UK Muslim organisations on communications and public affairs as they foster interfaith initiatives and tackle racism and Islamophobia. Saqeb holds a BA in History from University College London and an MA in War Studies from King’s College London. He is a member of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations, is a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and was a Senior Associate Fellow at RUSI.
Asha Ahmad

Director of People and Culture

Asha joined Islamic Relief in 2025 with the aim of working with colleagues to create an environment where everyone feels valued, empowered, and motivated to contribute meaningfully to our shared mission.

Asha has more than 20 years of experience in HR leadership across a range of industries, holding roles at Thomson Reuters, BMW, Movado Group and others. She is passionate about building strong, resilient teams and fostering positive workplace cultures where individuals are empowered to thrive, contribute and do their best work.

Asha holds a BA in Management, Economics and Law, as well as a BA in Business Studies. She is an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development.

new director

Director of Network and Resource Development

Adnan joined Islamic Relief in 2004 as a regional fundraiser in the UK. He worked in multiple roles over 10 years at Islamic Relief UK, including setting up the first digital team and leading the growth of digital fundraising and engagement. Adnan also led numerous fundraising and marketing campaigns, which played a significant part in the growth of Islamic Relief UK.

Having moved to Islamic Relief Worldwide in 2014, Adnan has held different roles that have helped grow Islamic Relief’s global digital footprint into new geographic territories, supporting Islamic Relief members with their digital and marketing growth as well as developing new products and initiatives for the Islamic Relief family.

Adnan graduated in Industrial Design and Technology from Loughborough University. He has since completed an Advanced Diploma in Business Administration from Durham University and a Diploma in Digital Marketing from the Institute of Data and Marketing.

Nadeem Azhar

General Counsel

Nadeem joined Islamic Relief Worldwide in September 2022. He has worked in the charitable sector for over a decade.

He studied Modern History and Politics at Manchester University, and at the University of Law in London before qualifying as a solicitor in 2011.

Nadeem is an experienced corporate, commercial and governance lawyer, having worked with various faith-based and grant making charities as well those in health and education settings. He was a partner at a law firm in London before moving in-house where he focused on setting up and restructuring charities and social enterprises.

Most recently, Nadeem was Lead Counsel at Mind, a leading mental health charity, where he co-authored a new federation agreement, revamped legal processes, and played a major role in developing its strategic and fundraising partnerships.

Nadeem has been a charity trustee for the Seafarers Charity, as well as many grant-making bodies and theatre companies.

Salaheddin Aboulgasem

Director of Global Family Development

Salaheddin joined Islamic Relief UK in 2006 and over the next 7 years held multiple roles, including Community Fundraiser and Campaigns Manager, before joining Islamic Relief Worldwide in 2013.

Since then, Salaheddin has been instrumental in the launch and growth of new Islamic Relief member offices in Ireland, Spain, Norway and Finland, as well as providing essential support and guidance to existing members, including Italy, where he served as CEO for 3 years.

In 2023, Salaheddin became Deputy Director of Global Family Development and in this role has continued to play a crucial part in steering Islamic Relief’s growth and expansion. He has also led global fundraising and media engagement for major emergencies including the Türkiye-Syria earthquake and Libya floods. Salaheddin became the Director of Global Family Development in 2025.

Salaheddin holds a master’s degree in International Development and is actively involved in several community-led initiatives. He is currently the Vice President of the International Union of Muslim Scouts and Deputy Chair of the UK Muslim Scouts Fellowship as well as Chair of the South Birmingham Muslim Community Association.

Board of Directors
Javed Akhtar

Director of Finance

Javed Akhtar has more than a decade of experience at Islamic Relief, having worked in a similar role between 2003-2014. In that role he strove to implement wide-ranging financial and accounting processes which aided in the transparent nature in which Islamic Relief now operates.

Javed also has diverse experience across the private sector, having worked at American chemicals and pharmaceutical giant DuPont, shipping firm FedEX and technology consultancy company Accenture. In all his roles, he prioritises using the latest technologies to improve monitoring and reporting at every level. Javed’s commitment to embracing digital end-to-end technology, enhancing accountability to our stakeholders and promoting financial transparency is ensuring that we remain at the forefront of financial developments in the sector.

By training, Javed is a chartered accountant with a Master’s degree in NGO Management with Charity Accounting and Financial Management from Cass Business School.
Board of Directors
Affan Cheema  

Director of International Programmes

Affan Cheema is an experienced leader who has spent 25 years working in the international aid sector on poverty eradication in Asia, Africa and the Middle East. He has worked in fast onset emergencies, protracted crisis and development environments whilst working for Islamic Relief Worldwide and Care International. He is also a trustee of South West International Development Network (SWIDN).

Through his career Affan has held numerous roles including institutional fundraising, programme and grant management, and programme quality assurance.  Affan’s leadership has helped Islamic Relief Worldwide secure the highly coveted Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS), seen as the sector’s premier benchmark for operational excellence.

Affan completed his BA in Economics and Geography from University of London (School of Oriental and African Studies) and his MSc in Development Administration and Planning from the University of Bristol. He is PRINCE2 qualified, is a keen sportsman and recently co-edited a book entitled -Islam and International Development: Insights for working with Muslim Communities-.
Board of Directors
Dr Hossam Said

Managing Director, Humanitarian Academy for Development (HAD)

For nearly three decades Dr Hossam has provided the strategic vision to manage, lead and develop a range of international humanitarian interventions around the world.

At the start of his career, Dr Hossam served on the Board of Directors of the Egyptian Medical Syndicate, before moving to Islamic Relief Worldwide to manage the core global business activities as International Programmes Director.

During this time the organisation increased its global reach, gaining both domestic and international repute and credibility. Dr Hossam has also served on the Islamic Relief Worldwide Board of Management and Executive Committee for the past 15 years; sharing responsibility for strategic organisational development and the change management process, whilst forging strong relationships with many other charities.

Dr Hossam gained an MBA from Aston Business School in 2004 and graduated as a Medical Doctor from Cairo University in 1981.
Board of Directors
Martin Cottingham  

Director of External Relations and Advocacy

Martin Cottingham joined Islamic Relief in 2012 as IRUK Media Relations Manager, and was appointed Head of Communications in 2015 before taking up his current position as Director of External Relations and Advocacy for Islamic Relief Worldwide.

Martin has helped Islamic Relief to increase its mainstream media profile and expand its campaigning work, producing hard-hitting advocacy reports on floods in Pakistan (2011) famine in Somalia (2012) disaster risk reduction (2013) and aid to Afghanistan (2014). He has over 20 years’ experience working in media, communications and marketing roles for international development and environmental charities.

Martin graduated from the University of London with a degree in English and Drama (1982-85) then trained as a journalist with a postgraduate diploma at City University (1986-87). He has previously worked for Christian Aid as Editor of Christian Aid News and Media Relations Manager (1988-97) for Oxfam as Regional Campaigns Manager (1997-2000) and at the Soil Association as Marketing Director (2001-2006), as well as working for a wide range of organisations as a freelance writer, researcher and communications consultant.

Tufail Hussain

Director of Islamic Relief UK

Tufail Hussain has 17 years’ experience in the humanitarian and development sector, leading on marketing and fundraising campaigns for several organisations before joining Islamic Relief UK in 2016 as Deputy Director. Tufail was appointed Director of Islamic Relief UK in 2019 and in 2021 provided valuable leadership as interim CEO of Islamic Relief Worldwide.

Tufail is driven by a passion for empowering disadvantaged youth and mentors a number of young people. He also works to strengthen engagement between British Muslims and wider society. Under his leadership, Islamic Relief UK has significantly increased its income and developed successful partnerships with communities across the country. He has travelled around the world to raise awareness of major emergencies such as the Syria, Yemen and Afghanistan crises and the floods in Pakistan and Sudan.

A father to 5 daughters and a son, Tufail is also a sports enthusiast and passionate Liverpool FC supporter. Tufail has run the London Marathon twice, raising over £35,000 for humanitarian causes.

Before joining Islamic Relief he was CEO of Orphans in Need, where he oversaw a new strategy that increased income from £2 million to £9 million in 3 years and opened up new UK and international offices. Tufail is also a trustee of the Muslim Charities Forum and a Director of TIC International (Islamic Relief Worldwide’s clothes recycling and trading arm).
Waseem Ahmad

Chief Executive Officer

Waseem Ahmad joined the Islamic Relief family over 24 years ago, serving as Programme Officer in the Balochistan province of south-western Pakistan before becoming Head of Programmes in Pakistan. Waseem then moved to Oxfam and Tearfund before returning to Islamic Relief to establish our mission in Malawi. Later serving as Head of Programme Funding and Partnerships, Waseem led the response to major crises across the globe, including the East Africa drought, Pakistan earthquake and the Indian Ocean Tsunami.

Waseem then served for nearly 6 years as our Director of International Programmes, during which time the charity secured and retained the coveted Core Humanitarian Standard certification in recognition of the quality of our programming. He was appointed CEO of Islamic Relief in May 2021.

With a special interest in community mobilisation and infrastructure, Waseem received an MSc in Project Planning and Management from the University of Bradford, as well as an MSc in Economics from Arid Agriculture University in Rawalpindi, Pakistan.

Waseem has also worked for Lepra Health in Action and is a member of the International Civil Society Centre’s Board of Trustees. The father-of-3 enjoys walking and playing football, and is a keen birdwatcher.