Joining Hands For Gaza

October 7 marks one year of the relentless bombardment on Gaza. As the days pass with no sign of ceasefire, the stories of survivors in Gaza become more unbearable, as the living conditions deteriorate and the humanitarian crisis spirals out of control.
AMA teams in Gaza recently spoke to Salma Ismail Sameer Bshammala, a 10 year old orphan who lost her entire family in one night:
“On October 25th, I was going to buy something from my uncle’s shop when our house was bombed. The entire area was filled with smoke. My cousin came to rescue me and took me to a place a bit further from the house. The next day I heard that my mum, my dad, my brother Mohamed and my sister Zeina were martyred. 21 members from my family were martyred – my uncles, cousins, grandparents – they were all martyred.”
To imagine a child witnessing the loss of one or two family members fills us with despair – to contemplate thousands of children losing entire extended families in the space of a few hours is beyond comprehension.
AMA’s aid focus for October
For the month of October, AMA will intensify efforts in Gaza with the aim of reaching at least 30000 families with essential aid.
Relief efforts will focus on the following:
- Provision of hot meals
- Provision of clean water through water tankers
- Mum and baby hampers which will include Milk Powder and Eggs to nourish the mother and Milk powder and diapers for the baby
- Medical Tents which include doctors from different disciplines consulting and prescribing medication to the sick
As Gazans are forced to drink any water they can find, diseases are spreading rapidly and many speak of the skin infections they are enduring.
Multiple Displacements
Many families have been displaced several times since the start of the war.
Lana Shamallakh, 11 years old, is from Gaza City, but has moved to Khan Younis then Nusayrat, then Rafah, as her family is forced to flee each time warnings are issued or conditions become unbearable. Lana speaks about life in the makeshift camps – “The situation here is very bad. We stand in queues for water and bread”
Before the war, Lana dreamt of being a teacher. “Now we just dream that the war will end and we can go back home.”
Take action with the “For Gaza” campaign
The plight of the people of Gaza is close to the hearts of the South African community, and AMA hopes to join with individuals and businesses during October to work together to assist the people of Gaza.
AMA is inviting individuals, businesses, schools, community groups and clubs around the country to run their own initiatives during October, supported by AMA, with the aim of donating funds to Gaza.
We pray for peace for the people of Palestine, and all humanity.