Mar, 2026
Anera’s medical support program for Gaza evacuees in Jordan gives Ali another chance at life
Despite the October ceasefire agreement, the humanitarian situation in Gaza is an ongoing catastrophe unfolding in real time. Mothers and fathers grieve the loss of their children, young adults now live with lifelong disabilities, and families have been torn apart.
As we enter a new year, needs are increasing alarmingly, and hospitals out of service reached a record high. Before the war, Gaza had 36 hospitals across the territory, serving the population of over two million. Currently, half of these hospitals are totally nonoperational, while the remaining 18 are only partially functional. Shortages of medicines and medical supplies are serious and widespread. This means that healthcare services in Gaza are often difficult for families to reach and limited in what they can provide. More than 18,000 people, including 4,000 children, are in need of urgent medical evacuation to obtain treatment unavailable in Gaza.
A Mother’s Courage
Fadwa, 33, has four children. Her oldest is a teenager, and the youngest is only three. “Before everything unfolded, we were normal,” she says of her family’s life before the war.
Fadwa used to work as an operating room nurse in one of the hospitals in Gaza. Years ago, she took time off from her career to invest in her children and focus on their futures, something that is now a luxury for many Palestinians in Gaza today, who face barriers in obtaining even the basics to survive.
She imagined lives filled with possibility for her children: “I want my children to embody my hopes and dreams for the future.”
“Two years ago, the escalations forced me to grab my children and leave home,” she says.
She became the backbone for her family, ensuring her children continued their education. When her girls had an exam scheduled, she sat with them and helped them to prepare, even in the midst of the war.
“Not receiving an education was the greatest catastrophe,” Fadwa says of the war.
Fadwa lost her father early in life, and her husband only a few months ago. Despite unimaginable hardship, she stood tall for her children.
“I thought only about how to get him out of here. I was scared of my child becoming another casualty.”
Ali’s Urgent Diagnosis
In July 2025, Fadwa noticed her youngest son, Ali, experiencing chest pain. “My brother offered to take him to the doctor, but something urged me to go myself,” she remembers.
At the consultation, the doctor told her Ali’s heartbeat was irregular. An echocardiogram revealed a cardiac mass that required frequent monitoring. Check-ups were needed every two weeks, but that was impossible in Gaza.
When Fadwa was finally able to return for a follow-up three months later, the mass had grown. His doctors said Ali needed urgent surgery abroad.
“I thought only about how to get him out of here. I was scared of my child becoming another casualty,” she says.
Fadwa put out appeals on social media. All the while, she monitored Ali vigilantly. “If he overslept, I would rock him to hear him breathe.”
Evacuation and Surgery
Thanks to coordinated efforts with Anera, Ali was evacuated from Gaza to Jordan in mid-January 2026. “Upon the family’s arrival at the King Hussein Medical City, Anera was present facilitating their admission,” our project manager, Rozana Zarour, says.
Ali underwent several medical tests in preparation for surgery. The rest of the family received dignified accommodation, clothing, food, and food vouchers from Anera. A family escort accompanied Fadwa’s children while she stayed with Ali in the hospital.
Later that month, he underwent heart surgery to remove the dangerous mass. The operation was a success. The silent threat that could have taken his life at any moment was gone.
Recovery and Hope
The family escort accompanied Fadwa’s children full-time while she stayed with Ali in the hospital. To ensure the family’s needs are covered, Anera also supplied the family with decent clothing, food, and a food voucher. As Ali was making a full recovery, Anera supported his sisters with fun, interactive psychological support sessions a couple of times during the week.
Thanks to coordinated medical evacuation, surgery, and comprehensive family support, Ali was given a second chance at life, and Fadwa, a second chance at imagining a bright future for her children.
How You Can Help
Ali’s story is just one of many. With the situation of the healthcare system in Gaza worsening, Anera will continue supporting health evacuations and providing essential assistance to families and individuals evacuated to Jordan for medical reasons.
Your donation can help save lives and support families like Fadwa’s.
