Lifeline to Palestine: Emergency Assistance

In Nablus, the Hamdan family has found comfort and safety through TYO’s Mental Health and Family Support Program.

They are a family of seven and have faced numerous challenges over the years. The father works as a street vendor to provide for the whole family, while the mother, Rana*, is a homemaker and dedicated to caring for their five children - two of whom have special needs.

Their eldest son suffers from a severe intellectual disability and a life-threatening heart condition. He has undergone dozens of surgeries, and each brought a lot of stress to the family who feared for his health and life. The youngest daughter has a motor disability due to a severe spinal curvature, and relies on a wheelchair, which severely limits her mobility within their small, poorly equipped home.

The doors were narrow, and the hallways were obstructed, making movement between rooms a daily challenge, especially for the daughter who constantly required assistance to enter the bathroom. This had a negative impact particularly on the daughter’s mental well-being, but also the family as a whole. “Watching her struggle every day affects all of us. I know how strong she is, and thank God, but we felt trapped living like this,” Rana shared.

Despite their limited resources, Rana has always worked tirelessly to provide the best care for her children, ensuring they receive specialized treatments. The daughter also showed remarkable perseverance and determination - against all odds, she continued her education and graduated with honors in Psychology. 

However, the deteriorating economic situation in the country, exacerbated by ongoing violence and instability, has made it difficult for the family to meet even their most basic needs or fix issues in their house. This all added to the hardships and stress of their daily lives.

At this point, Tomorrow’s Youth Organization (TYO) intervened to help. TYO’s social worker visited the family and began psychological counseling and emotional relief sessions for the mother and children. But it quickly became clear that a more comprehensive approach was required to address the root causes of their stress — the home environment itself. 

TYO initiated a home rehabilitation project, addressing critical structural issues that had long been neglected. Leaks were repaired, obstacles were removed, and the bathroom was renovated to accommodate the daughter’s special needs. TYO’s intervention and support created changes that brought them safety and comfort for the first time in years. “It was a feeling of relief. I mean, it wasn’t easy to hear how sad my children felt, but as we came together, I felt proud,” Rana said.

The story of the Hamdan is one of resilience, and how TYO’s programs help change lives for the better. The psychological intervention and home rehabilitation has improved their wellbeing and provided them with a brighter outlook for the future. 

And this was made possible thanks to your generosity and continued support. Your contributions offer hope and healing. By donating today, you enable us to reach even more families in need, helping them rebuild their lives and giving them the chance to thrive. 

Amid unprecedented levels of violence and an escalating economic crisis, Palestinians struggle to secure the most basic needs and provide for their families while navigating the psychological impact of trauma and fear.

In the West Bank, living conditions have worsened, as families cope with unemployment and impediments to mobility. Many of them have been thrown into heartbreaking scarcity. Fatima’s* family, a family of 7 from Nablus, is one of them.

For 8 months, her husband has been unemployed and they have faced severe financial hardships. “He used to work, but the economic impact has been so negative that he lost his job. And since then, it has been really difficult to find work and alternative sources of income,” Fatima shared with TYO’s social worker.

Initially, Fatima and her husband managed to get by with what they had. But it soon became ever more challenging, and they found themselves unable to provide for their children. “Our situation is extremely difficult. We have nothing, not even bread. I have nothing to feed them,” she explained and expressed her deep anxiety about not being able to provide for her children: “We are enduring this so our children don’t have to worry, so they can go to school, play, and live as normal a childhood as possible.” 

The food package contained essential supplies but it provided much more than that; it was a respite for them, securing their basic needs while they looked for ways to meet their future ones. “We were so grateful for the assistance. I didn’t even have bread at home before, and I didn’t know what else to do. The package had enough for the whole family, enough for us to manage and buy meat for them too. The children are indescribably happy,” Fatima told us as she thanked us for the assistance.

Distributing food packages is an effort to bring immediate relief to individuals and families at risk, by helping them survive yet another month. However, the challenges in their lives are far from being solved. 

With the support of our donors and working alongside local partners, TYO continues to provide vital aid to improve the mental health and livelihoods of those affected by the high levels of violence and destruction in our communities. Together, we are building a lifeline for parents and families struggling to keep their children safe and nourished.

*Name has been changed to protect privacy