Gaza crisis: Supporting orphaned families

Home Gaza crisis: Supporting orphaned families
February 7, 2025 Occupied Palestinian Territory -

More than 15 months of horror and sorrow have traumatised an entire generation of Palestinian children.

Perhaps no other group of people in Gaza has suffered as much as children have throughout Israel’s sustained attack and siege. The emotional toll on children has been immense. They have been forced to cope with grief, fear, and uncertainty about the future.

Tens of thousands of children have been forcibly displaced multiple times, uprooted in a desperate yet hopeless search for safety. They have suffered through many nights of screeching missiles and in too many cases, had their parents violently ripped from their lives.

Since October 2023, Islamic Relief has massively extended our Orphan Sponsorship Programme to support as many children as we possibly can. Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, the programme has grown by more than 70%, with more than 17,000 orphans now receiving support.

The ceasefire announced in January 2025 offers a brief glimmer of hope for the future, but orphaned children face even more upheaval and more uncertainty.

Returning to devastated neighbourhoods that have been pummelled beyond all recognition offers only anxiety about the future. There is little hope to be found amid homes reduced to rubble, destroyed schools, and ruined hospitals.

Returning to rubble

“I do not know what to tell you. I am trying to talk but I want to cry. I got the news that our house got demolished. It really affected me. I cried a little. Then, I thought thank Allah that my kids are well.

“They are more important than the house, the business and everything.”

Sameera is a widow from northern Gaza who has been displaced multiple times over since October 2023. Most recently, she was taking refuge with her children in a warehouse in Al Nasr.

Sameera used to sell desserts from her kitchen, now all that’s left of her home is rubble

After news of the ceasefire, Sameera returned home only to find that her home had been completely destroyed.

“This was my kitchen, I used to make desserts, pastries and cakes. It was my only source of income that I used to support my family.

“My house and livelihood are gone.”

Sameera was previously enrolled in the Orphan Sponsorship Programme which helped fund her university degree.

“I thank Islamic Relief (Orphan programme) for funding and supporting me through my university education. And I hope they continue to support us so we can rebuild our home and business.”

All Sameera can do now is put a tent over what used to be her home, and wait for the rebuild of Gaza to begin.

Psychosocial support

Islamic Relief has been supporting Mehraman’s family since her husband was killed in an airstrike more than a year ago.

 “With the death of the children’s father, we faced a difficult and tragic situation. Life was very difficult, and we were thinking about how to solve this situation.” Mehraman says.

A number of Mehraman’s daughters were enrolled into our Orphans Sponsorship Programme.

“Islamic Relief helped me by sponsoring 5 of my girls which helped provide food, drink, and clothing that they needed,” Mehraman says.

While the family’s situation had improved, bombs continued to fall around them, and everyone suffered from the mental impact.

Islamic Relief has been supporting Mehraman and her children with counselling and psychosocial sessions

Through the Orphan Sponsorship Programme, Mehraman’s children received counselling and trauma therapy to enable them to process their experiences.

“Praise be to Allah, the weekly sessions had an impact on the young children and helped them to get out and play and be active with a lot more freedom,” Mehraman, who has also received psychosocial support from Islamic Relief, told us.

“The family sessions helped me relieve many of the psychological pressures that I was experiencing with the girls at home.

“I thank Islamic Relief for sponsoring the girls and providing them with what they need in life.

“I thank them for the family psychosocial sessions.”

Islamic Relief has been working in Gaza for nearly 30 years, and has worked tirelessly to save lives during the last 15 months of relentless Israeli attacks. With your support, we will continue to be a lifeline for the children and their families that have already suffered so much. Donate today.

*In Islamic tradition, an orphan is usually a child who has no father. The child will remain an orphan until the age of maturity/understanding. Islamic Relief’s Orphan Sponsorship Programme supports children who have lost 1 or both of their parents.

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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.

Adnan Hafiz

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.

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.