For the third Ramadan in a row, Palestinians in Gaza are experiencing a waking nightmare.
Since October 2023, families in Gaza have suffered relentless and barbaric violence. More than 70,000 people have been killed – including 20,000 children – and over 170,000 have been injured since the onslaught began.
Almost everyone living in Gaza has experienced displacement, and most have experienced it multiple times. Families are struggling to find shelter, and they are now almost entirely reliant on humanitarian aid.
“I used to own a small supermarket where I sold food and staple goods, and it was the main source of livelihood for me and my son, Mahmoud.”
But life for Akram, 55, and his family, has radically changed in the past few years.
“During the war, my store and house were both bombed, and we are now left without shelter or any means of income,” Akram says.
“Our lives have turned into a nightmare, and we are now surviving on charity kitchens and community kitchens, waiting for aid that comes here and there, without any hope of providing for our children.”
Unbearable
Akram is unemployed and struggles to provide for his family. He is now living with his wife Ameera, 4 children and 2 grandchildren. Due to the scarcity of work and lack of food, the family often go to bed hungry.
“The situation has become unbearable, and each passing day adds to our suffering.”
Islamic Relief has been helping Palestinian families in Gaza for nearly 30 years and have continued to reach vulnerable families like Akram’s throughout this crisis.
For the past 2 years, we have adapted our usual Ramadan food distribution programme from providing family food parcels to delivering a combination of food vouchers and food parcels where possible.
In 2025, we reached more than 96,000 people in Gaza.
A time of peace and prayer
Ramadan is a time of reflection and worship, but those trapped in Gaza are not afforded such luxuries. The long-awaited ceasefire, announced in October 2025, has not helped the vast majority of those displaced – tens of thousands are still in dire need of support.
“The food distribution from Islamic Relief during Ramadan was a big thing for us,” Akram says.
“We were able to make proper Iftar meals, something we couldn’t have done on our own because food was scarce and resources were limited.
“The help wasn’t just food, it was also a feeling of support from people outside, and that’s very important in these times. It eased some of our worries, and we knew we wouldn’t have to worry about food for the next few days.”
With your generous support, we will do our best to reach the most vulnerable in Gaza. Together, we can help provide a moment of peace during the holy month. Donate to our Ramadan Appeal now.
