Support a Family in Gaza

Many people want to support a family in Gaza but are not sure what a family there actually needs day to day. From the outside, the word "aid" can sound like one big package. From inside a tent, it is a list of very specific things: a jerrycan of clean water, a meal with some protein for the children, a dry place to sleep, soap, light after sunset and a notebook for school. We are the Ashqar family, and this article walks through those needs one by one, so you can see where your support makes the biggest difference.

The bigger picture in 2026

The ceasefire announced in October 2025 did not end the hardship. In August 2026, UNICEF reported that families are now crowded into roughly a third of the Gaza Strip, many living among rubble and accumulated waste with limited access to safe water and sanitation. The humanitarian community's 2026 Flash Appeal, coordinated by UN OCHA, asks for billions of dollars to assist millions of people across the occupied Palestinian territory. Large programs are essential, but they cannot cover every household's daily gaps. That is where people who choose to support a family in Gaza directly can step in.

1. Food: more than just filling stomachs

Food is available in some markets again, but prices are high and many families have no regular income. What children often lack is not just quantity but quality: eggs, dairy, vegetables, fruit and the vitamins growing bodies need. For our family, healthy food and nutritional supplements for the children start from around $150. A balanced meal does more than end hunger for a day; it protects children's health and helps them concentrate and play like children should.

2. Clean water every single day

Water is the need that never takes a break. Families must drink, cook and wash, and safe drinking water usually has to be bought and carried. Clean water for our family costs about $100 a month. Without it, parents are forced into impossible choices between drinking, cooking and hygiene, and children are more exposed to illness.

3. Shelter that protects from the weather

After repeated displacement, many families live in tents or damaged buildings. Tents leak in winter storms, trap heat in summer and offer almost no privacy or safety. Our shelter goals are monthly rental support for a safe apartment and, in the longer term, a simple caravan to replace the tent. You can read what this daily reality feels like in A Daily Struggle for Survival and Daily Life in Gaza War.

4. Hygiene and household essentials

Soap, shampoo, sanitary items, cleaning supplies, blankets and mattresses are easy to overlook, but they protect dignity and prevent disease. In crowded areas with damaged sanitation, basic hygiene becomes a frontline defense for children's health. Small amounts of support can keep a household stocked with these essentials.

5. A safe way to cook

Many families cook over open fires fed by wood, cardboard or plastic, which fills tents with smoke and puts children at risk of burns. A basic wooden kitchen with a sink and utensils gives a family a cleaner and safer way to prepare food. We explain this in detail in How Families Cook in Gaza: Daily Life Without Kitchens.

6. Light and power after dark

When the sun goes down, families without electricity sit in darkness. A small solar panel can power a light, charge phones to stay in contact with relatives and make evenings safer for children. Read more in Help a Gaza Family Get Solar Energy.

7. Learning and a sense of normal life

Children need more than survival. Notebooks, pens, school bags and a quiet corner to study give them structure and hope. We share more about raising children through war on our Parenting Tips page.

How your support reaches these needs

Every need above appears on our Forms of Assistance page with a clear target and a progress bar, so you can choose exactly what you want to support. If you would like to understand the safest way to give, read Donate to a Family in Gaza: How Your Support Helps. If you are still exploring different ways to help, including ways that do not involve money, our guide How to Help a Family in Gaza is a good place to start.

Small help, real change

You do not need to cover everything. Choosing one need, such as a month of water or a basket of healthy food, is already a meaningful way to support a family in Gaza. Each contribution moves a real family one step closer to safety, health and stability. You can see the people you are helping in our Family Photos.

Thank you for taking the time to understand what families here truly need. When you are ready, visit our Forms of Assistance page and choose the need you would like to support.