In a crisis that has stripped millions of their basic rights, Khatmala’s community kitchen proves that humanity survives even when systems collapse.

In Gedaref’s internally displaced persons camps, Khatmala runs a ‘takaaya’ – a community kitchen – where she provides and shares food and drink, that have become lifelines for those who have lost everything.

“I fetch water, get the ice ready, and then people start coming,” she says. “My joy never fades. I just keep talking with people, I don’t like to sit idle.”

In a nation where more than 12 million have been displaced and over 30 million people need humanitarian assistance, Khatmala’s takaaya has become something extraordinary – the difference between life and starvation for people in Sudan.

What happens when every right disappears

The long running conflict in Sudan has created what the UN calls the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. Over 80% of healthcare facilities are closed, food production has collapsed and there famine-like conditions being reported from multiple regions.

For women and girls, the conflict has been devastating.

More than 12 million live at risk of gender-based violence. Sexual violence has become a systematic weapon of war with widespread and horrific reports of women being forced into sexual slavery, gang rapes and the assault of children.

Simply being female in Sudan, as UN Women puts it, is “a strong predictor of hunger, violence and death.”

The fundamental rights in the Universal Declaration – life, security, food, shelter, freedom from torture – have been obliterated for millions.

This is the context in which Khatmala serves tea each morning.

A true community kitchen

Takaayas in Sudan represent something profound: when institutions fail, communities become the last line of defence.

“Every Friday, I cook breakfast and sometimes lunch,” Khatmala explains. Camp police help when they can. Neighbours contribute what little they have. “Everyone comes and eats. You have to extend your hand to others.”

Before Islamic Relief’s support, conditions were harsh.

“When it rained, I sat there soaking wet,” she remembers. The organisation brought a tent, sheeting, supplies. “Now I’m covered. Now I can do more.”

The support represented more than materials, it was recognition. Her work matters.

“I can’t ignore a hungry person. If I see a neighbour’s child who hasn’t eaten, I share what I have. That’s just God’s mercy.

“I try to give what I can, so I don’t forget the blessings I receive,” she reflects. “When you eat from what God gives, remember those who have less.” 

When the world looks away

Islamic Relief’s first ever intervention was responding to famine in Sudan in 1984 – Over 4 decades later and we are still here. In the past 2 years alone, Islamic Relief has reached more than 1.2 million people with vital humanitarian aid including food, water, medical support, dignity kits, and support for initiatives like Khatmala’s kitchen.

The gap between need and response is catastrophic, however. Without urgent action, Sudan risks total state collapse, a nightmare with massive regional consequences. Without proper funding and without political will to end the conflict, millions more will be pushed past the brink.

When asked what message she would give to people beyond Sudan, Khatmala says: “I just want to tell people: do good. We don’t need to brag – just say, ‘Alhamdulillah, we helped.’ Even a handful of dirt, if given sincerely, is valuable to God.

“Whatever you can give, we accept with open hearts. We just want your kindness, your good words, your prayers.”

The work that cannot wait

Khatmala’s story offers an urgent reminder: human rights aren’t abstract principles. They are fundamentals. They are the difference between life and death.

This Human Rights Day marks the end of 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign, we need to celebrate and support community leaders like Khatmala. We need to ensure women’s participation in peace processes and hold perpetrators accountable. Transform pledges into resources that actually reach people.

Crucially we need to view people like Khatmala clearly, not as helpless victims, but as architects of their own survival, deserving partnership and support.

Islamic Relief has been supporting vulnerable communities in Sudan for over 40 years. To support our lifesaving work and help women like Khatmala continue serving their communities, please donate to our International Emergency Appeal today.

Dr Masih Farahimi leaves for work each day fearing arrest simply for being a woman. Yet she continues to show up, knowing that pregnant mothers and newborns depend on her presence. Her story reveals both the crushing weight of gender-based restrictions and the unbreakable spirit of Afghan women refusing to disappear.

“Every day when we leave the house, we despair that we might be arrested for being a woman and not returned back.”

Dr Masih Farahimi speaks these words with quiet intensity. A medical doctor working as a midwife with Islamic Relief’s Hira Project since March 2020, Dr Farahmi embodies a paradox that defines life for countless Afghan women: continuing to serve her community whilst living under restrictions designed to erase her from public life entirely.

As the world marks 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, from 25 November to 10 December, Dr Masih’s reality demands our attention. One in 3 women around the world experience violence, but for Afghan women, the violence isn’t just physical. It’s systemic, structural, and suffocating.

The daily calculation

Dr Masih works full time in a maternity ward, focusing on antenatal care, postnatal care, and family planning services. Basic healthcare that saves lives. Yet reaching work requires navigating a maze of restrictions that would break most people.

She is forced to travel with a mahram (a male guardian) almost everywhere; There is a constant dress code to adhere to; Training or meetings outside the province are often forbidden.

Dr Masih has to make the same mental calculation each morning: is the risk worth it?

“We don’t have security,” she explains simply. The understatement masks a profound truth. Since August 2021, Afghanistan has implemented increasingly severe restrictions on women.

In December 2024, authorities banned women from studying medicine, nursing, or midwifery, closing some of their last pathways to professional healthcare roles. Earlier that year, a new law formalised existing restrictions and introduced fresh ones, including prohibiting women from speaking aloud in public.

For female health workers like Dr Masih, these restrictions create impossible situations. Nearly 90% of medical staff in earthquake-affected regions are men. When disasters strike, women and girls comprise over half the casualties but face critical barriers accessing care. Male doctors cannot examine them under strict social codes. Female doctors are vanishingly rare and increasingly restricted.

 What keeps her going

“The need of the people, especially women and children, motivates me,” Dr Masih says. “Many of them depend on our presence for basic healthcare and awareness. Knowing that I can make even a small difference gives me strength to keep going.”

“Even then, it’s hard.” She adds.

The mental and emotional toll of working under such conditions is immense. Female-friendly spaces where women could gather and support each other have closed. Dr Masih copes by staying home when mentally exhausted, spending time with other women, sitting with family, and trying to think positively.

“I believe that the situation will eventually change for the better, inshallah,” she says, her faith evident, despite everything.

The ripple effects

The restrictions don’t only harm female health workers. They devastate the entire healthcare system and the communities it serves. Afghanistan now has 1 of the world’s largest workforce gender gaps. Just 1 in 4 women is working or seeking work, compared to nearly 90% of men.

Dr Masih shares an example: “I know a woman who suffers from haemorrhoids but is not allowed to go to the hospital because there is no female doctor or surgeon available. Her husband also refuses to let a male doctor examine her.”

The woman suffers in silence, denied care because of her gender.

It is a story repeated across Afghanistan, where women’s access to healthcare has become increasingly difficult. Fear, mobility restrictions, education bans, and systemic discrimination keep women and girls from getting the care they need.

A different kind of violence

This is gender-based violence. Not always physical, but violence, nonetheless. It is the deliberate erasure of women from education, employment, and public life. The systematic denial of their autonomy, their voice, their right to exist fully in society.

The UN has stated these restrictions may constitute crimes against humanity. Yet women like Dr Masih continue showing up, providing care, refusing to be erased.

Dr Masih’s requests are straightforward: more flexibility around travel restrictions and access to training, safe transportation options for female staff, more community sensitisation and an increase in mental health support.

“These would make a big difference,” she states.

But her deeper hopes go further.

“I hope all these restrictions will be lifted and women will be allowed to make decisions about their own lives. Schools and universities should reopen. We should not be punished further simply because of our gender. I want my rights to be respected as a human being and not to be deprived of my basic freedoms.”

The strength to continue

“I am a very strong woman, alhamdulillah,” Dr Masih says.

This is not bravado. It is survival. It’s the strength of every woman who continues working despite restrictions designed to stop her.

Islamic Relief continues to support healthcare workers like Dr Masih through projects like Hira, providing safe and supportive work environments despite enormous challenges. The organisation tries to create inclusive environments for female staff, ensuring they work with dignity and respect even as the broader context makes this increasingly difficult.

“Despite the current restrictions, I find the Islamic Relief workplace relatively safe and supportive,” she reflects. “My team always ensures we work with dignity and respect.”

In a country where being a woman in public can lead to arrest, where speaking aloud is forbidden, where education and employment are systematically denied, Dr Masih continues to serve. Not because it’s easy. Not because it’s safe. But because lives depend on it.

That’s not just resilience. That’s revolutionary hope in action.

As we mark the 16 Days of Activism, Dr Masih’s story reminds us that solidarity requires more than sympathy. It demands action. Afghan women haven’t given up. Neither should the international community.

Islamic Relief stands with women and girls facing violence and discrimination worldwide. During the 16 Days of Activism and every day, we remain committed to supporting the rights, dignity, and wellbeing of all people. Support our work today and donate.

The morning routine begins early for Iman in Grozny, Chechnya. When most teenagers hit snooze on their alarms, 15-year-old Iman is already awake, performing her upper body exercises before logging into her online classes. Confined to a wheelchair due to spinal trauma, Iman has structured her days around what she can control – her education, her determination, and now, her flourishing career as a nail artist.

“The main challenge I face in my daily life is the inability to walk and be self-reliant in the simplest activities that other people can afford without any efforts,” Iman says. “I am greatly obliged to my parents for their patience and love.”

Yet this young woman from Chechnya is rewriting what independence looks like.

A turning point

A friend had shared information about Islamic Relief’s free vocational training programme for people with disabilities through WhatsApp, Iman saw the opportunity and never looked back.

For a family where the sole breadwinner is Iman’s 21-year-old brother Muslim (who works in airport security) and where medical expenses for Iman’s regular rehabilitation courses and operations constantly strain resources, this felt almost destined.

“I like it very much to draw, that’s why we decided that I should take manicure classes,” Iman explains. Her mother Razet called Islamic Relief for details, and soon they were invited to the first lesson. “It was great!” Iman recalls.

From student to business owner

What Islamic Relief provided went beyond the expected. Iman didn’t just acquire manicure and pedicure skills – she received all the equipment and materials needed to open her own studio. Income from Muslim’s salary, Iman’s disability pension, and her mother’s small carer’s allowance are often not enough to cover monthly costs, this support from Islamic Relief helped transform possibility into reality.

“It is a great thing to be able to work and earn something yourself!” Iman says with pride.

The work demands excellence. Building a client base requires not just technical skill but trust, reliability, and the ability to deliver results that keep customers coming back. For someone who must navigate daily life from a wheelchair, each client appointment represents a small victory – over societal assumptions, over logistical challenges, over the limitations others might impose.

Iman’s first income – 6,900 roubles (approximately RM415) – represents far more than its monetary value. It’s proof of capability, evidence of independence, and validation that her worth isn’t defined by her disability.

The power of belief

“Our teacher is a great person, she inspired us so much and welcomed all our efforts,” Iman remembers. “This made us sure we would succeed”

This belief – from her instructor, from her family and supported by Islamic Relief – has been transformative. In a world where people with disabilities face unemployment rates as high as 80% in some countries and assumptions about capability often precede any assessment of actual ability, Iman’s story challenges every limiting narrative.

She studies online in Year 9, managing her education despite regular interruptions for medical treatment. She maintains morning exercise routines. She builds a business. She does all of this whilst relying entirely on others for basic mobility.

“I saw many people who cannot use their legs, but they use their brain and hands to be useful to the society,” Iman reflects.

Building community, not just business

For Iman, the vocational training programme delivered unexpected gifts alongside the practical skills. “I have gained skills and met many good friends! I have received a lot of good memories!” she says.

This social dimension matters profoundly.

“I don’t like it to be alone, I like people and communication,” Iman explains.

The programme created what all good disability inclusion initiatives should: not a separate space for people with disabilities, but an environment where they could learn, grow, and build community together whilst developing skills.

Looking forward with hope

“Insha’Allah, I will continue to work as a nail master, since I like it very much,” Iman says of her future. Her aspirations are to continue doing the work she loves and to maintain the independence she’s worked so hard to build.

She’s practical about improvements too, suggesting that training facilities could benefit from more spacious rooms and stationary ramp entrances – the kind of accessibility features that demonstrate genuine commitment to inclusion.

Her message to Islamic Relief carries the gratitude of someone who understands exactly what was given: not charity, but opportunity. “I would like to thank people in the Islamic Relief who thought of this kind of project. Such attitude gives people with disabilities a chance to become more skilled and make their dreams come true!”

 What real support looks like

As the world marks International Day of Persons with Disabilities, Iman’s story reminds us that leadership comes in many forms.

Sometimes it looks like a 15-year-old girl in Grozny, building a business from a wheelchair, proving that determination and opportunity can overcome obstacles that once seemed insurmountable.

Her hands may create beautiful nails, but her story paints an even more beautiful picture – of resilience, of family support, of organisational commitment, and of a young woman refusing to let disability define the boundaries of her life.

This International Day of Persons with Disabilities, Islamic Relief Worldwide celebrates individuals like Iman who lead through their courage, determination, and refusal to accept limitations. Their leadership lights the path towards a truly inclusive and sustainable future for all. Support our work and help us provide opportunities for more people like Iman, donate today.

The scorching sun beats down on Camp-4 in Kutupalong, Bangladesh, home to more than 35,000 Rohingya refugees who fled unspeakable violence in Myanmar. Among them is 36-year-old Nasima, whose story reveals the particular vulnerabilities women face in humanitarian crises.

As we mark 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, we share the story of Nasima, a Rohingya refugee whose journey from persecution to resilience reminds us why safe shelter is a fundamental right for all women and girls.

When home becomes a memory

In December 2017, Nasima’s world collapsed. The Myanmar army’s brutal campaign against the Rohingya forced her family to make an impossible choice: stay and face persecution, or flee into the unknown. Like nearly 1 million others, Nasima chose survival, but it came at a devastating cost.

During their desperate escape, Myanmar soldiers opened fire on Nasima’s family. The bullets found their mark, leaving her with severe injuries that would alter the course of her life. The physical wounds were profound, but the invisible scars ran deeper still. The trauma shattered not only her body but her sense of safety in the world.

Today, Nasima lives with her 6-year-old daughter Yasmin in a refugee camp where nearly 8,000 families grapple with the daily struggle for survival. With no source of income and limited mobility due to her injuries, Nasima embodies the vulnerabilities that women in humanitarian settings face – vulnerabilities that the 16 Days of Activism campaign seeks to address.

The weight of unsafe shelter

For 2 years, Nasima and Yasmin were forced to live in a deteriorating bamboo shelter. The structure, ravaged by weather and termites, offered little more than a symbolic roof over their heads. Damaged tarpaulins provided scant protection against the region’s punishing sun and monsoon rains. The flimsy fencing was no barrier at all.

“I used to live in a small bamboo shelter, and I was always sceptical about its durability,” Nasima recalls. “Whenever there was a strong wind, I feared that the shelter might not withstand it.”

This constant state of fear is something women in crisis settings know well. When your home cannot protect you from the elements, you are vulnerable to everything. For women like Nasima – living with physical disabilities and mental trauma – an unstable shelter exacerbates the daily challenges of camp life and increases exposure to gender-based violence.

The dignity of safe shelter

Hope arrived in January 2023 when Islamic Relief launched the Integrated WASH and Shelter Assistance Project (InSAP) in Camp-4. Through careful assessment, Islamic Relief identified the families most in need – those whose shelters had become dangerous rather than protective. Nasima qualified for the programme, receiving more than just materials.

Islamic Relief built a new shelter for Nasima. Strong bamboo replaced rotting posts. Secure tarpaulins replaced tattered sheets. A proper structure replaced a precarious assemblage. For the first time since fleeing Myanmar, Nasima and Yasmin had a home that could protect them.

“We are incredibly grateful for the support from Islamic Relief Bangladesh,” Nasima says, her voice carrying relief. “This new shelter provides a sense of security and comfort we haven’t experienced in years. It’s a life-changing intervention that we won’t forget.”

Islamic Relief also provided mosquito nets to protect against disease, Qurbani meat during celebrations, winter clothes against the cold, and Ramadan food parcels. But as this year’s 16 Days of Activism campaign reminds us, women’s safety requires sustained investment and commitment.

The transformative power of aid

As we observe the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, Nasima’s journey from a bullet-riddled escape to a safe shelter reminds us of our collective responsibility. Nearly 1 in 3 women worldwide experiences violence in their lifetime. In humanitarian emergencies, these risks intensify.

Safe shelter is both practical intervention and powerful statement: every woman and girl deserves protection, dignity, and the chance to live without fear. Nasima’s resilience shows us what becomes possible when humanitarian assistance recognises the specific vulnerabilities women face and responds with comprehensive, compassionate support.

Shelter to Nasima and Yasmin represent more than walls and a roof, it symbolises a future where safety for women is not a luxury, but a fundamental right.

This 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, Islamic Relief Worldwide stands with women and girls facing violence, displacement, and insecurity worldwide. Together, we can build a future where every woman has access to safety, dignity, and hope. Donate now to help women and girls like Nasima and Yasmin.

Editor’s note: This article contains descriptions of sexual assault and violence that some may find disturbing.

In Kapoeta North County, South Sudan, Nanyait carries a story that thousands of women know too well – a story of violence sanctioned by culture, trauma compounded by rejection, and survival that demands more courage than most will ever need.

At 34, Nanyait is rebuilding her life a small step at a time. But the journey to where she stands today, as an independent businesswoman and mother, required surviving what no woman should ever endure.

When culture condones violence

Married at just 14 years old, Nanyait spent decades in a marriage marked by abuse and hard labour. As she grew older, her husband grew tired of her. What happened next reveals the brutal reality of harmful practices that masquerade as tradition.

Her husband arranged for 2 men to sexually assault her – a cruel practice in some Toposa communities where older wives are sometimes given to other men. In Nanyait’s case, it wasn’t consensual. It was orchestrated violence.

When Nanyait discovered she was pregnant as a result of the assault, her husband’s response was to cast her out completely – abandoning her while pregnant and denying her access to their 3 children. When she fled, the children followed her, trying to stay with their mother, but her husband threatened her and forced her to stay away from them.

She returned to her family’s home with nothing, carrying not just a child but the weight of a community’s judgment.

“I had lost hope,” Nanyait recalls. “At my age, returning to my family house was really shameful, but I had nowhere to go.

“Worst was my husband refusing me to have access to my kids. I’m even talking to you because you’re not one of the community members. I have become a laughingstock. People call me names.”

In South Sudan’s patriarchal communities and particularly among pastoral groups in Kapoeta, women have no voice. Deep-rooted beliefs that view women as property and sources of wealth fuel forced and early marriages. When violence occurs, women are blamed. When they speak out, they face being cast out.

A space to heal and a chance to rebuild

A neighbour’s referral changed everything. At Islamic Relief South Sudan’s Women and Girls Friendly Space, Nanyait found what her own community had denied her: safety, dignity and support.

The project’s staff provided crucial counselling and connected her with antenatal services. During routine testing, Nanyait discovered she was HIV-positive, another devastating blow, but this time she wasn’t alone. She received ongoing counselling and was enrolled in skills-building classes.

“To everyone I was a laughingstock, but Islamic Relief and this place is the only place I feel comfortable in because we are many women and we share our stories,” Nanyait explains.

“We cry together and laugh together. When I’m here I feel so happy, so I don’t miss any classes.”

At the centre, Nanyait developed practical skills, like knitting bedsheets and creating beadwork. More importantly, she found her voice again. She started to sell her handmade items, then used the income to open a small shop selling cooking oil, salt, onions and other essentials. Today, she supports herself and her young child independently.

Why this work matters more than ever

Nanyait’s story is sadly not unique. Across South Sudan, harmful cultural practices continue to devastate women’s lives. Gender-based violence thrives in communities where men hold absolute power and women are systematically marginalised in decision-making and denied access to resources.

Through the PROGRESS II project, Islamic Relief South Sudan has reached 13,500 individuals across Kapoeta North County and Kapoeta East County communities ravaged by successive droughts and conflicts. The project has provided gender-based violence awareness to more than 1,970 women, and case management services to 150 survivors.

But awareness alone isn’t enough. Real change requires challenging social norms, working with faith and community leaders, and advocating alongside government partners to dismantle the structures that enable violence against women.

“I thank Islamic Relief for loving us and making us feel human again when our own people left us,” Nanyait says.

Women subjected to violence don’t need pity – they need safe spaces, practical support, economic empowerment and communities brave enough to name harmful practices for what they are.

As we mark the 16 Days of Activism against gender-based violence, Nanyait’s transformation from victim to survivor to independent businesswoman reminds us that change is urgent but possible. When women are given the tools, support and space to rebuild their lives, they don’t just survive – they reclaim their power.

Every woman deserves what Nanyait found: a place where her voice matters, her trauma is acknowledged, and her future belongs to her alone.

Islamic Relief’s gender justice work addresses the root causes of violence against women and girls, including harmful practices that are often wrongly attributed to faith. We work in partnership with communities, faith leaders and local authorities to create lasting change. To support our life-saving programmes by donating today.

October marks 2 years of Israel’s relentless assault on Gaza. That we’ve reached this grim milestone is testimony to the complicity of world leaders who have failed to stop the daily war crimes being carried out on Gaza.

More than 66,288 people have been killed – including some 20,000 children – and over 169,165 injured since the onslaught began.

Life in Gaza today is clouded by danger and uncertainty. Children are starving to death in a man-made famine and, each day, more civilians are massacred. The Israeli blockade traps families in a daily struggle to get food, medicine, shelter, water – everything they need to survive.

Uprooted repeatedly

Almost everyone in Gaza has been forced from their homes, often multiple times. 90% of families have been displaced an average of 6 times, while others have been forced to flee many more times – including Islamic Relief’s own staff.

The situation is getting even worse, with Israel intensifying its attack on Gaza City and ordering people to leave.

For some, leaving Gaza City is just not an option. Relocating is extremely expensive, and many say they have nowhere else to go. Others fear if they leave, they’ll never be able to return. With famine declared in Gaza City and the surrounding areas, others are too sick or weak to survive another journey. Those that have left are being forced into increasingly overcrowded camps, where diseases and starvation are rife.

Hundreds of thousands of people are squeezed into tents along the beach, in the wreckage of bombed buildings and along the streets.

Perhaps no one is suffering more than Gaza’s children. Struggling to survive, they are also seeing their hopes for the future being snuffed out. Famine threatens the lives of over 132,000 children, and all children under 5 are at risk of severe malnourishment, which can lead to long-term health issues, even for those who manage to get treatment. An entire generation of children are now in their third year out of school, and we are seeing rising mental health issues due to the extreme suffering and grief.

Your impact, their resilience 

Israel’s illegal blockade continues to restrict humanitarian aid, but amid so much hardship, Islamic Relief continues to be a lifeline to people in desperate need in Gaza.

Thanks to your support, our staff and partners have been delivering life-saving aid. Most recently, we have delivered hot meals to 28,560 right holders and distributed 931 food parcels to displaced families.

In addition, we have expanded our programmes supporting new and expectant mothers and babies. We have carried out almost 400 medical check-ups for pregnant women and supported deliveries, including C-sections.

Over the last 2 years, we have constantly adapted our response in light of the highly fluid situation on the ground, striving to ensure that our staff, partners and the communities we serve are not endangered. Our response has included:

• Distributing fresh fruit and vegetables to families living in temporary shelters
• Providing hot meals and hygiene kits to displaced people
• Distributing ready-to-eat meals, food packs and qurbani meat
• Providing psychosocial care to children experiencing trauma
• Trucking in clean drinking water
• Delivering medical supplies to hospitals and healthcare centres
• Setting up medical points and supporting these with medications and supplies
• Providing lipid-based nutritional supplements in partnership with the World Food Programme
• Cleaning shelters
• Providing multi-purpose cash assistance so families can buy what they need most
• Expanding our Orphan Sponsorship Programme to reach more than 21,000 children

Speaking up for Gaza

These efforts are helping to ease suffering, but the people of Gaza need more than aid.

Palestinians have shown incredible resilience, but there is a limit to what humans can endure. World leaders must finally act to demand a ceasefire and pressure Israel to fully reopen all land crossings so that sufficient supplies can arrive before it’s too late for those struggling for survival.

More paltry words of condemnation will not make any difference now. To save lives, governments must apply meaningful economic and diplomatic pressure, such as ending all arms sales, suspending trade agreements, and banning trade and investment with illegal Israeli settlements.

While we continue to call for action, help Islamic Relief to continue supporting people in desperate need in Gaza. Donate to our Palestine Appeal today.

19 August 2025 – Today, the humanitarian community marks World Humanitarian Day, a time to recognize the vital role of aid workers and pay tribute to those who have lost or risked their lives in the course of duty. It is also an occasion to reflect on the plight of the millions of people around the world—including in Yemen—who are caught up in crises, and to reaffirm our shared responsibility to protect the humanitarian lifelines they depend on.

Targeting humanitarian workers is not only a violation of International Humanitarian Law, but also an indirect attack on the millions of vulnerable people they serve. Humanitarian workers must be protected at all times and must be able to carry out their life-saving work safely and without interference or undue restrictions.

So far this year, 17 incidents of violence against humanitarian personnel and assets have been recorded across Yemen. Dozens of personnel from UN, non-governmental and civil society organizations continue to be arbitrarily detained by the de facto authorities, most of them for over a year or more. The humanitarian community continues to call for the protection of all aid workers and the unconditional and immediate release of detained colleagues.

This World Humanitarian Day comes at a time when humanitarian needs are surging. Yemen is now the world’s third largest hunger crisis, with more than 18 million people projected to be acutely food insecure by September. Malnutrition rates and disease outbreaks are escalating, with particularly dire impacts for Yemen’s children.

Protection risks are multiplying, especially for women and girls, internally displaced persons, refugees, migrants, people with disabilities and other at-risk groups.

While the humanitarian community is prioritizing its response to reach the most vulnerable, the very essential services that women, girls, boys and men rely on to survive are being reduced due to funding cuts and operational constraints. This is creating a collision course—where needs are soaring just as support is slipping away.

Despite tremendous challenges, humanitarians in Yemen have not stopped and will not give up in their efforts to save lives and alleviate suffering across the country, working hand-in-hand with the communities they serve.

This year, 155 aid organizations have reached more than 3.2 million people every month with vital aid such as clean water, food, health care, protection assistance, shelter, non-food items and cash. “It’s not just a profession; it is much more and beyond. It’s a calling to step into places and reach people that often feel forgotten, and to offer hope, relief and dignity when it’s needed most”, says Bushra, a Yemeni aid worker.

Today, we stand together with all humanitarians in Yemen and around the world who are pushing against the odds and putting their lives on the line to serve those most in need. Now more than ever, the international community must #ActForHumanity to protect and enable their vital work.

Amid the increasingly complex and uncertain global challenges, humanitarian crises continue to pose major issues that demand urgent attention and action. Wars, armed conflicts, natural disasters, disease outbreaks, and various other factors have led to chaos and severe disruptions in societal systems. These circumstances have resulted in the loss of lives and property, mass displacement of people, and the destruction of infrastructure.

Even more concerning, they have also undermined access to basic necessities such as clean water, food, and healthcare services. All of these leave behind trauma and profound impacts on the survival, safety, and fundamental rights of affected communities.

In facing such critical situations, the role of nations across the world is crucial to ensure that humanitarian aid can be delivered effectively and efficiently. It must be acknowledged that humanitarian crises occurring in any one country should not be neglected. Instead, they are challenges that the entire world must confront together in order to defend and uphold social justice for marginalized communities.

It must be remembered that crises and disasters not only test the resilience of local communities, but also serve as a measure of global commitment in assisting those affected by conflict.

Conflict-ridden countries such as Gaza, Sudan, and Syria often reflect the faces of those enduring suffering. They require continuous support and assistance from other nations so that their spirit to keep fighting for survival does not fade away.

In such critical moments, the international community must wisely decide whether to remain silent and indifferent, or to rise together in igniting hope and resilience during times of humanitarian crisis.

Solidarity: An International Bridge

When conflict erupts, cross-border support becomes a vital bridge that not only strengthens diplomatic relations but also helps restore peace and instill hope among affected communities.

The assistance provided covers basic needs such as food, medical care, temporary shelter, and psychosocial support to ensure the continued well-being of both physical health and mental resilience.

In today’s era of globalization, solidarity is no longer confined to physical aid alone. The presence of digital platforms, such as social media, has created vast opportunities for people to express their support at their fingertips.

Through the sharing of information, awareness campaigns, and targeted hashtags, the global community can unite in voicing concern for humanitarian issues swiftly and widely.

A successful example of global solidarity is the #FreePalestine and #SaveGaza campaigns, which went viral worldwide during Israel’s intensified attacks on Palestine. Through these campaigns, more social media users were able to demonstrate their solidarity and opposition to inhumane actions by uploading images, videos, infographics, and eyewitness reports that exposed the true situation faced by Palestinians.

This collective action raised global awareness, placed pressure on world leaders, and strengthened public support in demanding justice and an end to violence.

In conjunction with World Humanitarian Day, it is only fitting that greater exposure be given to humanitarian issues so that the power of millions of voices can be amplified in the pursuit of justice for the oppressed.

This commitment is also reflected through on-the-ground actions, such as those undertaken by Islamic Relief, which delivers emergency aid including food, water, medicine, and shelter to communities affected by humanitarian crises.

As emphasized by the Chief Executive Officer of Islamic Relief Malaysia (IR Malaysia), Siti Fadilah Mohd Hood, World Humanitarian Day is a crucial moment to reflect on our shared commitment to upholding humanitarian values. Despite the many challenges and difficulties, humanitarian workers continue to bravely step forward, bringing hope and relief to those most in need.

“As an NGO, we are determined to continue carrying this mandate and to play an active role in ensuring that aid reaches on time and has a real impact on the lives of marginalized communities. We all share a collective responsibility to nurture compassion, unity, and boundless solidarity. Therefore, I call upon everyone to help build a world that is more just, peaceful, and humane,” she said.

World Humanitarian Day is not merely a day of remembrance, but a day for action, contribution, and advocacy. In a world often divided by conflict, it is the spirit of humanity that has the power to unite.

The role of nations, together with the solidarity of communities across the globe, can indirectly strengthen the universal humanitarian spirit and sow hope for those enduring hardship.

As long as suffering exists, we must continue moving forward. May this awareness fuel collective efforts toward a world that is more peaceful and compassionate.

Nada Abu Taleb has documented Yemen’s silent suffering as Islamic Relief’s Media and Communication Coordinator in the country. Now, she reveals what humanitarian work truly means in one of the world’s most neglected crises.

World Humanitarian Day is a moment to pause, reflect, and remember why we choose to stand together in the face of crises. After nearly 15 years of humanitarian work, I have learned that to #ActForHumanity is not simply a theme; it’s a daily commitment, deeply personal and urgent, especially here in Yemen.

As a Yemeni who has lived and worked through this crisis, I know that suffering is not a distant headline, it confronts us every day. I see it in the strained expressions of my neighbours, hear it in the despair of families struggling to survive. But amid these painful encounters are moments of profound dignity that stay etched in memory.

I recall a mother who had just received a modest cash assistance package. Her hands held her child tightly. They were visibly malnourished, yet her eyes expressed overwhelming gratitude rather than complaint. In that moment, aid became about more than just food or money; it became about dignity, about making people feel seen and valued.

Another defining moment was my encounter with a displaced father living in a makeshift shelter after losing nearly everything: his home, livelihood, and even family members. Despite his burden, his greatest concern was maintaining his children’s sense of normality. “Even when we have nothing,” he said quietly, “I still make sure my children feel safe, clean, and believe things will get better.” This humble, steadfast courage reshaped my understanding of dignity. Humanitarian work is not merely about distributing aid; it’s about honouring people’s resilience, acknowledging their identity, and protecting the fragile sense of hope they still hold.

Education: Yemen’s silent crisis

While the world rightly recognises and responds to immediate crises like hunger and the need for shelter, Yemen’s overlooked crisis is the systematic erosion of our education system. Schools are emptying, teachers haven’t been paid, and children’s dreams are fading. I remember a classroom without doors or windows, children huddled together sharing torn notebooks. When asked about his dreams, one boy replied earnestly, “I want to be a pilot, but I don’t know if I will ever fly a plane. We can barely eat.”

This stark realisation hit me deeply. Education is not a luxury, it’s the promise of a future. Without schooling, children lose more than knowledge; they lose structure, security, and the ability to envision a better tomorrow. Protecting education is protecting hope itself, yet this urgent truth rarely makes international headlines. That’s why Islamic Relief teams in Yemen are working to rebuild classrooms, train teachers, and create safe learning spaces in some of the hardest-hit communities.

Finding strength in small acts

Humanitarian workers frequently grapple with overwhelming despair. I recall one particularly difficult day, consumed by endless stories of families skipping meals, children leaving school, communities crushed by hardship. The scale of suffering was paralysing.

But what pulled me back was the quiet joy of Eid celebrations. Families smiling because their children had new clothes, or because, for the first time in months, they had meat on their table. I remembered a father weeping quietly with relief as he watched his daughters recover from malnutrition, their laughter a testament to a small triumph. These moments of humanity remind me why this work matters, small gestures can reverberate deeply, sustaining hope amid despair.

Innovating amid challenges

The complexity of Yemen’s crisis which is marked by checkpoints, instability, and dwindling funds, often hampers our physical presence in affected communities. Our office responds creatively, training colleagues in remote areas in photography and storytelling so the voices of the communities we support can be heard. This initiative ensures we can document, communicate, and respond swiftly, preserving transparency and maintaining critical connections even amid logistical nightmares. This adaptive resilience underscores the resourcefulness required to deliver impartial and dignified humanitarian assistance under seemingly impossible circumstances.

Women’s silent strength

Throughout this crisis, I have come to see my fellow Yemeni women quietly shoulder extraordinary burdens. Their courage often lies not in grand gestures, but in daily persistence despite exhaustion, fear, or loss. Witnessing their quiet determination consistently reshapes my understanding of what true bravery looks like.

But some of their strength also comes from Yemen’s extraordinary community solidarity. Where official systems fail, neighbours have stepped forward, sharing limited resources, organising responses, and ensuring no one is abandoned. This local strength profoundly shapes our humanitarian approach, reminding us that true assistance is collaborative, respectful, and humble. Our role is not to lead from above, but to support and amplify the resilience already thriving on the ground.

The world’s shared responsibility

Today, when global attention feels overstretched, and crises rage everywhere, from Gaza to Sudan, solidarity is not a limited resource, it’s our shared responsibility. Acting for humanity means refusing to normalise suffering, no matter how frequent it becomes. It requires compassion, dignity, and fairness, consistently and urgently, even when no one is watching.

Yemen is often misunderstood, painted simplistically as a land of endless conflict and helplessness. In reality, Yemenis are remarkably spirited and resourceful. Our task as humanitarian workers is not to save them, but to stand beside them, preserving dignity, amplifying their voices, and working towards sustainable recovery.

On World Humanitarian Day, let us remember that behind every statistic, there’s a person with a story to tell. That is my job as a communicator. To act for humanity is to remain present, compassionate, and brave, even in the face of immense challenges. This work is not just our choice, but our collective answer to a world that desperately needs humanitarians. May our actions always reflect that calling.

Families in Yemen are fighting for survival every day. With your support, Islamic Relief can deliver life-saving aid to those who need it most. Your donation can help provide food, medicine, and hope to vulnerable communities. Please donate to our International Emergency Appeal today.

Displaced from Gaza and now living in another country in the Middle East, Islamic Relief’s Mariam* continues working tirelessly to support vulnerable people back home in Gaza, including her colleagues, who are facing incredible hardship. This World Humanitarian Day, we pay tribute to humanitarian workers doing all they can to support the people of Gaza.

Mariam carries the weight of 2 wars.

By day, she documents Gaza’s collapse in stark statistics: 90% of the population displaced, often multiple times; 71,000 children under 5 years old acutely malnourished, and critically, over 100 confirmed deaths from malnutrition so far – deaths that include children under 5 and no hospitals in North Gaza functioning as they either have been destroyed or forced to cease operations.

By night, she counts personal losses: How many days since she last heard from her brother in northern Gaza, how long it’s been since her husband – also still in Gaza – last ate, how many nights she’s spent lying awake worrying about her sister and family.

Since Mariam left Gaza 16 months ago, 2 phones are her tether to home. While a work device blinks with constant reports from colleagues, her personal phone holds precious voice notes from her husband.

“This is my reality now, supporting and monitoring food distributions while wondering if my husband ate today,” says Mariam, who has been working for Islamic Relief for 16 years.

“I review reports of infants starving to death in northern Gaza, then make breakfast for my own children.”

When the helpers need help

Now displaced and still supporting Islamic Relief’s response remotely, Mariam embodies both the extraordinary strength and impossible choices facing Palestinian aid workers.

“My colleagues who are still in Gaza work under bombs with no safe place to sleep. All of them have been displaced – most more than once – yet they continue their work. I sit here with a roof and running water, supporting their efforts remotely. But we hold our breath every day until we know they are safe. We try to take as much workload off them as possible, even though we are under pressure ourselves, because we know they are working under unimaginable conditions. They are exhausted, traumatised, yet still show up every single day. How can I not do the same?”

Over 483 aid workers, including 326 UN staff, have been killed in Gaza since October 2023. Mariam recounts an attack on a UN school sheltering displaced families – one of numerous such incidents targeting civilian shelters this year. In July this year, 3 staff members from Human Appeal were killed while doing their job.

“That could have easily been one of us,” Mariam says. “I was working inside Gaza under the same risks, moving between distribution points and shelters, fully aware that any moment could be my last. The only difference between me and those we lost is chance.

“This isn’t collateral damage, it is targeted,” Mariam adds. Among those killed were colleagues she once worked closely with, people she considered friends. One was Aseel Khudr, a nurse who lost her life while treating patients at Al-Sahaba Medical Centre. Another was a healthcare worker at an organisation Islamic Relief partners with, killed while fulfilling their humanitarian duty.

The statistics Mariam monitors tell the story of Gaza’s collapse as a result of Israel’s systematic and deliberate destruction of everything people need for survival. Even after Israel allowed aid into Gaza in July, only 40% of UN-led convoys were completed. The rest were either denied or impeded by Israeli forces or suspended due to insecurity. 2 million people – almost everyone in Gaza – face acute food insecurity. People have been gunned down and bombed while trying to get food, with over 1,239 civilians killed and more than 8,152 wounded while seeking humanitarian assistance since May 2025.

But numbers alone can’t capture what it means to deliver aid when the rules of war are being completely ignored with impunity.

The women keeping Gaza alive

What sustains Mariam are the women of Gaza – the doctors performing surgeries by the light of their phones, the teachers holding lessons in bombed-out buildings, the mothers inventing ways to stretch a cup of flour into 3 meals. She describes colleagues who spend mornings documenting war crimes and afternoons searching for firewood.

“Before this war, we had washing machines, universities, and cinemas,” Mariam  says. “Now, women wash clothes in sewage-contaminated water and teach math in rubble.”

Mariam pushes back against the stereotype that Palestinian women are somehow ‘used to’ hardship – that’s simply not true. “People looking from the outside might think we had lived like this all our lives, but in reality, [since October 2023] we have had to reinvent everything just to survive.”

Mariam  shares the story of Fatema, a graduate of Islamic Relief’s Orphan Sponsorship Programme, who is now an aid worker herself.

“I first met her when she was 12, when I was starting my own career. She was bright, writing poetry despite losing both parents,” Mariam says. “Years later, she joined our team.”

Fatema’s husband and son were killed in an airstrike while she was at work.

“When I saw her on TV crying, holding the toy she just bought for her son, my heart broke into pieces. Later, I learned she went back to work, with even more determination, because somehow, she didn’t let it break her. For me, she is the true meaning of strength and dignity in the middle of so much pain. Whenever I feel like giving in to exhaustion or despair, I think of her, and she reminds me why we keep going.

What acting for humanity really requires

For Mariam, this World Humanitarian Day’s slogan, #ActForHumanity, isn’t just a hashtag, but a daily practice with concrete demands:

First, stop the weapons fuelling this catastrophe. “No more ‘deep concern’ statements while bombs keep falling. We need enforceable arms embargoes now.”

Second, pressure Israel to end its blockade and guarantee unfettered aid access. “Every day our convoys are blocked means more children like Fatema’s son are buried in mass graves.”

Right now, people are starving, drinking polluted water, and dying, not just from bombs but from hunger and preventable diseases. No hashtag can replace trucks filled with food, medicine, and fuel. Nor can it rebuild the homes, schools, and hospitals, reduced to rubble.

Mariam adds that “acting for humanity also means seeing us as people, not numbers. For Gaza, it means listening to communities, respecting their dignity, and ensuring aid reaches the most vulnerable, in a fair and dignified way. It also means holding those who violate humanitarian law accountable, because silence in the face of this suffering is complicity.”

And finally, she says, remember the displaced. “Whether in neighbouring countries or elsewhere, many Palestinians outside of Gaza are living without residency rights, school access, and healthcare. Survival shouldn’t be the endpoint of dignity.” And for those forced to flee Gaza, the right to return must never be forgotten.

On World Humanitarian Day, Mariam hopes her message cuts through the noise: because true solidarity means showing up, not just when it is trending, but when it is terrifying and the world looks away.

Islamic Relief continues delivering lifesaving aid in Gaza against almost-impossible odds. Support our Palestine Appeal today.

*Name has been changed to protect confidentiality