What does therapy and psychosocial support include?

Nearly half of Gaza’s population are children, with over 450,000 currently displaced and left without a home. Nearly 18,000 Palestinian children have been orphaned and no longer have the emotional or financial support to survive, let alone thrive. 

For the children in Gaza experiencing emotional distress, you can directly provide them with the tools, fun activities, and knowledge to heal from their trauma.

• Psychosocial support activities include:

• Arts and crafts

• Drama and puppet performances

• Storytelling

• Playing games

• Singing, musical instruments, and dance classes

• Awareness campaigns and seminars

• And more! 

What support is Islamic Relief providing in Gaza?

We have offices with staff and volunteers who have been distributing all emergency food and medical supplies they had previously stockpiled or could additionally procure, every day since the escalations began. 

We are working alongside the Ministry of Health, UN humanitarian organizations, and local partners: Beit Lahia Development Association, Gaza Culture and Development Group, Unlimited Friends Association for Social Development, and Bayader for Environment and Development Association. 

As of mid November, our team has so far distributed: 

• ⛑️ 2.2 million medical supply items 

• 📦 9,773 food packs 

• 💵 3,870 food vouchers   

• 🥬 Fresh produce to 13,458 households

• 🍴 289,746 ready-to-eat meals 

•  🛏️ 7,867 blankets and mattresses

• 💧16,404 people received clean water 

• 🧼 12,906 hygiene kits

• 🎈16,221 children received psychosocial support

Islamic Relief’s Presence in Palestine 

Islamic Relief has been working in Palestine since 1997. Our work in Gaza is focused on both emergency relief and development support, ensuring sustainable long-term programs that are transformative for the communities involved.

Some of our key projects over the past few years have included: 

• Distributing emergency food packs and facilitating access to clean drinking water

• Creating sustainable livelihood opportunities for 755 farmer families by planting olive trees and providing essential tools for cultivation and irrigation

• Empowering orphans and vulnerable children through education and STEM 

• Enrolling children in recreational therapy and psychosocial services

Long after the cameras leave, we are still on the ground, rebuilding communities and helping them recover from tragedy. The future is left in Allah’s (SWT) hands, and we hold faith that you will be able to reap the blessings of your efforts and intentions. 

Islamic Relief works with communities to strengthen their resilience to calamities, and we provide vital emergency aid when disasters occur.

We help the impoverished access basic services, including education, water and sanitation, as well as healthcare. We provide lasting routes out of poverty through our sustainable development schemes. Our integrated approach to progress is transforming communities worldwide.

We tackle the root causes of poverty and make sure that the world’s most vulnerable people have real influence in both our programs and advocacy.

Our key values, of compassion, justice, custodianship, sincerity and excellence – a critical part of our Islamic faith - inspire us each and every day to create positive change and remember the sanctity of life.

In line with Islamic teachings on the value of every human life, we provide assistance to whoever needs it most, regardless of race, religion or gender. We work to transform and save lives of people in crisis both Canada and across the world.