Samah Kassab, a humanitarian aid worker in Gaza City, has been providing sanitary products and fresh food for Palestinian women and girls for almost six years. Partnering with local aid groups, she also ensures that women and children have access to psychosocial support. However, after Israel invaded Gaza, Kassab and other aid workers have been struggling to continue their work while keeping their families safe. Due to the ongoing conflict, Kassab and her family have been displaced multiple times and faced many challenges, including lack of access to crucial resources like food and medical care.
The Israeli invasion in Gaza has caused widespread destruction and devastation, with an estimated 35,000 people killed, mostly women and children. The attacks have also displaced the majority of the population and destroyed essential infrastructure, leading to a hunger crisis and disease epidemic in the region. Humanitarian aid workers have faced challenges in providing assistance, with Israeli forces targeting helpers and obstructing aid from entering the enclave. Israeli settlers have also obstructed the delivery of aid, creating further difficulties for aid workers trying to assist the affected population.
As a senior program officer for ActionAid Palestine, Kassab has coordinated efforts to establish sanitation units, plan recreational activities for children, and distribute essential items like hygiene kits and hot meals. Despite her efforts to assist others, Kassab has faced challenges in providing for her own family, especially during the harsh winter months in Rafah. Lack of proper medical care, sufficient food, and clean water have led to health issues, including outbreaks of disease among children in the family.
After spending three months in Rafah, Kassab managed to escape to Egypt with her two children, leaving behind the rest of her family in Gaza. She continues to coordinate aid efforts remotely while struggling to communicate with her relatives and ensure their safety. With limited resources and blocked aid routes to Gaza, Kassab acknowledges the challenges of meeting all the needs of the people in the region but remains committed to doing her best despite the obstacles.
The ongoing situation in Gaza has led to a severe shortage of food and essential supplies, leaving many people desperate for necessities. With crossings closed and limited access to cash, the fear of chaos and civil unrest is rising as tensions increase over basic needs. Aid workers like Samah Kassab and Sami Matar are working tirelessly to provide assistance to displaced Palestinians and alleviate the suffering caused by the conflict. However, the lack of resources, including fuel and supplies, poses a significant threat to humanitarian operations and essential infrastructure in the region, heightening the urgency for aid to arrive soon to prevent further devastation.
