Vouchers, hygiene, and hope: a lifeline for one family in Gaza
Mariam and her five children bore the weight of unimaginable loss on their shoulders. For more than a year, not a day passed without the sound of bombing. Mariam's husband, the family's sole provider, was killed in the conflict and her home was destroyed. Her family was displaced to a crowded shelter in Gaza City with 23 people packed into a single room.
Support came through clothing vouchers and hygiene kits from CARE Canada, as part of the Humanitarian Coalition's Gaza Humanitarian Emergency response, made possible with the support of generous Canadians and the Government of Canada. The support brought some relief to her family in the face of overcrowding, displacement, and trauma.
When Mariam and her children were forced to flee, they didn't have time to pack their necessities. "The war had escalated, and the bombing was surrounding our house," she said. "Everyone took what they could and left quickly." She managed to bring only one change of clothes for each child. With stores closed, she turned to family members, who helped with clothing.
"I was displaced to my cousin's house and managed to get some clothes for my daughters, and then, thank God, the organization CARE contacted us during this difficult time and provided a voucher," says Mariam. "It was truly wonderful and met almost all our needs. They provided everyone in our family with the essentials, from underwear to outerwear, everything."
She also emphasized the importance of the hygiene support she received. With prices high and supplies scarce, items like shampoo and soap were out of reach. "Hygiene materials became scarce in Gaza, and there was nothing, no shampoo. Yet, they contacted us, and we received a hygiene kit. Honestly, it came at the perfect time, and it was truly wonderful."
Gaining access to hygiene supplies helped Mariam's family cope with life in the shelter, but the situation remained extremely difficult. Mariam described the conditions as "a suffocating and blazing space because of the sheer number of people and shared breathing." With no access to gas for cooking, families were forced to rely on open fires, which filled the shelter with smoke and left thick soot on the walls. Over time, living conditions in the shelter led to serious health concerns. "This has caused us many health issues -- some developed respiratory diseases. The children got hepatitis and also skin infections," Mariam said.
Our members, including CARE Canada, provided essential aid as part of the Gaza Humanitarian Emergency in 2023. Humanitarian needs are still urgent in Gaza; our members are continuing to respond and will scale up their programs as soon as it's safe to do so.
*Names were changed for security reasons