In Gaza, childhood is too often replaced with survival. One image captured the world’s heart in 2024: an 8-year-old girl named Asmaa carrying her injured sister through rubble for over two kilometers in search of medical help. This act of courage revealed both the unimaginable burdens Gaza’s children bear and the hope that still shines through resilience. Today, as the crisis deepens, the question remains: how can we support children like Asmaa and the countless other war orphans struggling to survive?
Asmaa’s Story: A Child Carrying More Than Her Sister
When a car struck her younger sister on the war-torn streets of Gaza, Asmaa, only eight years old, didn’t wait for help that would never come. With no vehicles available, she lifted her sister onto her back and walked barefoot through rubble-strewn streets for more than two kilometers. Witnesses recorded her determination as she repeated: “I want to get her leg treated.”
The world watched in awe as the footage spread across global news outlets. Asmaa’s story is not just about bravery — it is a glimpse into the daily reality of Gaza’s children, where survival often depends on children taking on adult responsibilities far too soon.
Sources like NDTV, Al Jazeera, and Anadolu Agency confirmed her story, calling it a symbol of both Gaza’s suffering and resilience.
The Symbolism of One Story
Asmaa’s courage resonates because it reflects a larger truth: Gaza’s children are carrying the burdens of war on their backs. For some, that means literally carrying siblings to safety. For others, it means navigating life as war orphans, forced to grow up without parents, stability, or security.
This single act of love and bravery embodies the struggle of thousands of orphans in Gaza today. Each child faces not just physical dangers but also hunger, trauma, and the loss of their childhood dreams.
The Reality of Gaza’s War Orphans
According to UNICEF, more than 300 million children worldwide live in conflict zones, and Gaza remains one of the most dangerous. Thousands of children have been orphaned by airstrikes, disease, and famine. Without parents, they are often left with little protection, little food, and little hope.
What Gaza’s War Orphans Need Most
- 🍞 Food Security: Many go days without regular meals.
- 🩺 Healthcare: Access to trauma care and emergency treatment is scarce.
- 📚 Education: Schools destroyed by bombings mean children lose years of learning.
- ❤️ Trauma Relief: Children like Asmaa carry invisible scars that last long after the rubble is cleared.
- 🏠 Shelter: Families displaced into overcrowded shelters face unsafe conditions.
As Save the Children reports, war orphans face a “war on childhood,” where safety and dignity are stripped away. In 2025, addressing these needs is not just urgent — it is life-saving.
Faith and Responsibility: Why Orphans Are Sacred Trusts
In Islam, caring for orphans is more than charity; it is a sacred duty. The Qur’an emphasizes protection, kindness, and justice for orphans. Faith-based organizations, like Umma Foundation, carry this responsibility forward in practice, providing not just emergency aid but also long-term programs to restore dignity and hope.
Faith-Based Orphan Support at Umma Foundation
- Fresh bread distribution to ensure no child goes hungry
- Trauma kits and psychological care to address deep wounds
- Education and school supplies to safeguard children’s futures
- Access to healthcare in areas where hospitals are collapsing
Through Monthly Giving, Umma Foundation ensures consistent support for orphans in Gaza, Yemen, Sudan, and beyond.
Why Monthly Giving is the Lifeline for Orphans
One-time donations save lives in emergencies, but monthly giving creates stability. For orphans who have lost everything, consistency is what restores security.
- ✅ Monthly giving helps NGOs plan ahead and sustain programs.
- ✅ Orphans feel remembered and cared for when support is ongoing.
- ✅ Just $25/month provides food, healthcare, and trauma relief for one child.
The Hidden Struggles of War Orphans
Behind every story like Asmaa’s lies a larger crisis. War orphans are not only vulnerable to hunger and disease, but also to exploitation, forced labor, and the long-term effects of trauma.
- Health Risks: According to the World Health Organization, children in conflict zones face higher risks of malnutrition, untreated injuries, and preventable diseases.
- Education Gaps: UNESCO reports that war disrupts schooling for millions, leaving orphans especially at risk of permanent educational loss.
- Psychological Toll: The Lancet highlights how prolonged exposure to violence doubles the risk of severe PTSD in children.
These are not isolated problems; they create a cycle of poverty and instability that can last for generations if left unaddressed.
Global Lessons in Protecting Children
The challenges faced by Gaza’s children are not unique. Across Yemen, Sudan, and other conflict zones, children have been forced into adult roles far too soon. By looking at global responses, we see both the gaps and solutions:
- Child Protection Programs: UNICEF’s models in Syria and Lebanon show that community-based protection networks reduce risks of child exploitation.
- Nutrition Initiatives: In Yemen, joint efforts by WFP and local NGOs demonstrate that sustained food programs drastically cut child mortality.
- Education in Emergencies: Mobile classrooms and digital learning hubs in refugee camps, documented by UNHCR, provide a blueprint for safeguarding education during conflict.
These lessons underline that supporting orphans isn’t only about short-term aid — it’s about building systems that allow children to recover, learn, and thrive despite war.
Children of War: A Global Crisis
While Asmaa’s courage in Gaza captures headlines, her story echoes the struggles of millions of children worldwide. According to UNICEF, more than 468 million children live in areas affected by conflict — nearly one in five of the world’s young people.
- Displacement: UNHCR reports that over 43 million people are currently displaced, with children making up nearly half of all refugees. Many are separated from parents or orphaned.
- Hunger and Malnutrition: The World Food Programme warns that children in conflict zones are twice as likely to be malnourished, with long-term effects on health and development.
- Education in Danger: UNESCO estimates that over 222 million school-aged children affected by conflict and crises lack access to proper education.
- Psychological Impact: Studies published in The Lancet show that children exposed to war face double the risk of developing severe PTSD and depression, with lifelong consequences if not treated.
From Gaza to Sudan, Yemen to Syria, and beyond, children are paying the highest price for wars they did not start. These global figures remind us that Asmaa is not alone — she represents a generation of children struggling to survive and longing for peace.
Conclusion: Heroes of Gaza, Hope for the Future
Asmaa’s strength reminds us that even in the darkest times, resilience shines through. But no child should have to carry the weight of war — literally or figuratively. With your help, we can lift that burden, restore dignity, and give orphans the chance to dream again.
Every donation, every prayer, and every act of advocacy matters. Together, we can make sure that Gaza’s children are not forgotten — and that heroes like Asmaa have a future filled not with rubble, but with hope.
