“Everything is Hard in My Life”

Forty-year-old Sabah Abdo lives in the Gaza Strip with her daughter and three sons. Her life changed dramatically in 2002 when her husband, Rawhi, died of cancer aged 39. Suddenly her children were left without a father and she no longer had a husband to rely on.

Rawhi’s cancer treatment had cost the family their life savings, so Sabah was left struggling to support herself and her four children. The family was barely surviving. In desperation Sabah searched for help, and her neighbours directed her to Islamic Relief’s office.

Sponsorship

Islamic Relief found sponsors for two of Sabah’s children, Hussain (7) and Ateyah (10), through the Orphan Sponsorship Programme.

Sabah has not received Rawhi’s salary for seven months due to the continuing aid embargo on the Palestinian government. The sponsorship money is now the family’s main source of income.

Tragedy

In July, Sabah’s 13-year-old son, Ahmad, was killed in a rocket attack during a military incursion. The loss of her child has left her immensely sad. “Everything is hard in my life,” she says quietly.

When Islamic Relief staff visited the family, they found that Ateyah had problems with his hearing and speech. Ateyah’s sponsor, known as “Mama Hakema”, offered to pay for a hearing aid. However, he has been unable to get his ears tested yet due to the power failures following the bombing of Gaza’s electricity station.

Violence

The children’s lives are heavily disrupted by the conflict. They have to cope with ongoing shelling, sonic booms, lack of electricity and problems accessing water.

Ten-year-old Ateyah is particularly disturbed by the sonic booms and cannot sleep. During electricity cuts he clings to his mother for comfort. All of the children suffer from psychological problems.

Support

Although life is a struggle for Sabah and her family she is grateful for the support of Ateyah’s sponsor from the US.

“Allah sent Mama Hakema. I hope Allah protects her and her children for her great stand beside my children.”