At just 12 years old, Amira has already faced the loss of her father, displacement and the destruction of her family home. Despite everything she has experienced, she continues her education and holds on to her dream of becoming a nurse.
Amira lost her father to cancer when she was 9 years old. She remembers him as a source of love, safety and strength.
His death changed her childhood. Then, when the war in Gaza began, Amira and her family faced another period of loss and fear.
Forced to leave their home
Amira lived with her mother, Manal, and her siblings in Al-Salam neighbourhood in Rafah. When the family was forced to flee, they left most of their belongings behind, taking only a few clothes, bedding and basic kitchen items.
They hoped they would soon be able to return home. Instead, their house was destroyed and the family remained displaced. They eventually set up a tent.
Life there was extremely difficult. The tent became very hot during the summer and bitterly cold during winter. Rainwater leaked inside and the ground often turned to mud.
The family also struggled to access water and food. They sometimes spent hours waiting to collect water from passing trucks and relied on community kitchens when they could not afford food.
Losing everything again
The family later suffered another major loss when their tent was burned.
Their remaining clothes, cooking equipment and other belongings were destroyed.
“Everything we owned was turned to ashes,” Manal shares. The family was left once again without the basic items they needed for daily life.
They now need stronger shelter and waterproof coverings, as well as a bathroom, cooking equipment, clothes and shoes.
Continuing to study despite displacement
Despite the dire conditions she faces, Amira continues her education online and is now in seventh grade.
Without electricity or a washing machine, she also helps her family by washing clothes by hand. She dreams of becoming a nurse and hopes she will be able to continue her studies.
Amira also enjoys drawing, although she does not currently have the materials she needs to practise it.
Her immediate needs include winter clothing, underwear and shoes.
Supporting orphaned children in Gaza
Islamic Relief has been supporting orphaned children in Gaza through our Orphan Sponsorship Programme since 1999.
Through one-to-one sponsorship, a donor is matched with a child, whose guardian receives a regular monthly payment. In Gaza, families can use this support for the needs they consider most urgent, including food, clothing, healthcare and education.
Islamic Relief has significantly expanded the programme during the current crisis. More than 25,000 children in Gaza are now receiving sponsorship support, while over 5,000 remain on the waiting list.
Where possible, sponsored families may also receive additional seasonal support, including Ramadan and qurbani food parcels, Eid gifts and winter items.
Holding on to hope
Amira’s story reflects the difficult reality facing many children in Gaza who have lost parents, homes and a sense of security.
Yet she continues to study and think about the future.
Her hope is simple: to continue her education, become a nurse and live somewhere safe with her family.
Through Islamic Relief’s Orphan Sponsorship Programme, you can help provide regular support to orphaned children and their families in Gaza. Be a lifeline for Gaza’s orphans by donating today.
