Amina*, 33, is a mother of three from Beit Lahiya in northern Gaza her home. Her 6-year-old son, Medhat*, benefited from a medicine from Tearfund Ireland’s local partner, International Health Partners (IHP)
A year ago, the relentless echoes of war forced Amina to flee, seeking safety in the Mawasi area of Khan Younis.
Her journey was far from simple—fifteen times she packed what little she had, moving between Khan Younis, Nuseirat, and Rafah, searching for a safe place to protect her children.
The suffering during the war is beyond words, Amina says, her voice heavy with emotion. We endure so much—psychological scars, displacement, poverty, hunger.
“My children’s health has steadily deteriorated because of the unhygienic conditions and the harsh environment of the tents, whether in the heat of summer or the chill of winter."
Amid the chaos, Amina’s youngest son, six-year-old Medhat, began to show alarming symptoms. For a week, he suffered from body aches, abdominal pain, and persistent vomiting.
Desperate to help him, Amina tried caring for him in their tent, but his condition worsened. With nowhere else to turn, she took him to the IHP field clinic in Khanyounis, hoping for relief.
At the clinic, the paediatrician diagnosed Medhat with acute fever caused by exposure to the cold and provided medication free of charge. “The care was exceptional,” Amina recalls.
“And the fact that the medicine was free—it was a blessing. There are times when my children fall sick, and I can’t afford to take them to the doctor or buy medicine.”
For Amina, the war’s impact was magnified by the chronic shortage of essential medications in Gaza.
We’ve suffered so long without access to even basic medicines—painkillers, children’s treatments, ointments for skin conditions. But these field clinics have changed that. They’re a beacon of hope in such desperate times.
As Amina left the clinic with the prescribed medication, the doctor scheduled a follow-up visit to check on Medhat’s recovery. She was deeply moved by the care and attention her family received.
“It’s remarkable to see such compassion,” she says. “And most importantly, that the medicine is available.”
Her gratitude extends to those who made the clinic’s work possible.
Providing medicine in these challenging circumstances is essential. It eases the burdens we all carry. I’m deeply thankful to everyone who supports this clinic—it means the world to families like mine.