Aug, 1968
Psychosocial Support for Families from Gaza
Aug 20, 1968
For families evacuated from Gaza for medical treatment, reaching safety is only the first step. While medical care addresses physical injuries and illnesses, many families continue to carry the invisible wounds of conflict, displacement, and uncertainty. Children and their caregivers often need emotional support alongside medical treatment to begin recovering.
Recognizing this need, Anera, through the Gaza patient support program and in partnership with the Jordan River Foundation, provides safe spaces where play, creative activities, and psychosocial support help families heal. To date, 84 children, youth, and adults have received psychological support.
Located in the same building where families stay during treatment, these services are easily accessible, helping them regain a sense of security, build resilience, and find hope while away from home.
Finding Calm Through Play
Ali was just three years old when he arrived in Jordan from Gaza. Like many children displaced by the war, he struggled to adjust to his new surroundings. He became easily frustrated and overwhelmed, and his mother noticed that he was withdrawing from other children. As his behavior became more challenging, Ali eventually stopped attending kindergarten.
Seeking support, his mother enrolled him in Anera's psychosocial support program. Alongside other children who had experienced similar challenges, Ali found a safe space where he could play, learn, and express himself. Through sensory activities, storytelling, music, and group games, he gradually became more engaged, built friendships, and regained his confidence.
With the support of trained facilitators, Ali learned to express his emotions, communicate with others, and interact more positively with his peers. Over time, he became calmer, more willing to listen, and more comfortable participating in group activities.
His mother soon noticed the difference. "My son has changed a lot. He has become much calmer and is doing so much better," she says.
Today, Ali continues attending the program, where each session helps him build confidence, strengthen his social skills, and simply enjoy being a child.
"My son has changed a lot. He has become much calmer and is doing so much better"
Finding Strength Beyond Anger
Ten-year-old Sami arrived in Jordan carrying the emotional weight of war and displacement. After leaving his home in Gaza, he struggled to manage his emotions and often expressed his frustration through anger.
Through Anera's psychosocial support program, Sami found a safe space to better understand and regulate his emotions. Participating in team games, creative activities, and guided group sessions helped him gradually open up and share his feelings with facilitators.
Over time, Sami became calmer and more confident. He began making friends and communicating more openly with his teachers when something upset him. When asked how he would respond if a conflict happened during an activity, Sami answered, "It's okay. Even if someone hits me, I will come to you and tell you. It's really okay."
Today, Sami says he feels safe and comfortable at the center. For him, it has become a place where he can build friendships, express himself, and simply enjoy being a child.
Healing Through Art: Zeina Rediscovers Her Voice
Zeina came to Jordan to accompany a family member receiving medical treatment. Like many Gazans displaced by the war, she was carrying the emotional weight of everything she had experienced. Feeling overwhelmed and exhausted, she joined Anera's psychosocial support activities, where she found a safe space to talk about her emotions and express herself through art.
Over time, the sessions helped Zeina process her experiences and better understand her feelings. "For the first time, I felt able to speak and understand my feelings without fear," she says.
Today, Zeina says the support has helped her better manage her anxiety and prioritize her own well-being, allowing her to be there for her family as well.
Healing extends beyond medical treatment. Through the Gaza Patient Support Program, Anera and its implementing partner, the Jordan River Foundation, are helping children and caregivers find a safe space to process their experiences, strengthen their emotional well-being, and rebuild resilience while away from home.
*Names have been changed throughout to protect identity.
