(Sixth Food Parcel Distribution during the War)
In Gaza, there are children who can’t eat regular food. They have a rare genetic condition called Phenylketonuria (PKU).This condition requires special medical food and a strict no-protein, vegetarian diet to stay healthy and avoid brain damage. But with displacement and blockade, these basic needs are nearly out of reach.
Rebuilding Alliance, the parent organization behind Gaza GivingCartTM, is delivering the 5th round of fruits and vegetables to the 180 PKU patients in Gaza from June 27-July 3, 2025. This is a small miracle.
In this section, we share their stories as told by their families when they came to pick-up their fresh veggie parcels. These are stories of pain, resilience, and the daily struggle to keep their children alive.
Each story – every word – reflects a hardship we hope the world will not ignore.
Read their stories. Listen to what they need — let’s find more ways to help.
Story 1 – Monir’s Hunger
Monir is just two and a half years old. He has PKU, a rare genetic condition that makes his body unable to digest protein. For him, “normal” food is not only unsuitable — it’s dangerous. And with the war, the medical food he needs has vanished.
“The doctor warned us. No protein. Nothing that could harm his brain,” his father shared. “But what do I do when all we have is bread, lentils, and rice?””
He tried everything,but leftover biscuits and the few vegetables from shared parcels do not last. The special medical food formula — Monir’s lifeline — is gone. Now, Monir’s crying doesn’t stop. His anger doesn’t calm.
“Always hungry,” his father whispers, as though the words themselves cause him pain. “He is always asking for food.” Unlike his older siblings, who have learned to quiet their hunger with dry bread and long silences.
But then came a small flicker of hope: a food parcel from Rebuilding Alliance, filled with items safe for Monir. For a few days, he smiled again. For a few nights, he slept in peace.
“It wasn’t enough,” his father admitted, “but it gave Monir something. Something safe. And for that, we are deeply grateful.”
“We hope there will be more,” he added quietly. “Because he truly needs it.”
Story 2 – Farah’s Dream to Learn
In Gaza, our team delivered fresh vegetables to Farah, a 9-year-old girl living with PKU. This rare metabolic condition requires a strict protein-free diet. Without it, the consequences can be devastating, leading to irreversible brain damage.
For Farah, this means constant reliance on safe food and her special medical medical food milk — now impossible to find.
Her mother explained: “She’s always tired, preferring to lie down most of the time. She can hardly walk, and her mood swings are getting worse. She’s angry all the time.”
Farah’s condition improves slightly when fresh vegetables are available, but she also desperately needs the medical food that fuels her growth and development. That nutrition is the key to her health — and her dreams.
“She wants to go to school, to learn,” her mother added. “But without proper food and medical food milk… how can she?”
Despite everything, Farah’s mother holds onto hope. Her request is simple and sincere: “Even one parcel makes a difference. But my daughter needs more if she is to have a future.”
Story 3 – Mohammad’s Fragile Strength
Mohammad is five years old and also lives with PKU. Recently, his family received a parcel of fresh vegetables from our Gaza team.
“This is the food he truly needs,” his mother said. “But the prices are impossible now. We can’t afford anything suitable anymore. Even a single tomato costs more than we once paid for an entire meal.”
Since the war began, she has watched her son’s health decline. Once cheerful and focused, Mohammad is now irritable and withdrawn. He struggles to concentrate and has even begun wetting himself.
The food parcel brought a brief spark of hope. Carefully chosen vegetables gave him the chance to eat something real, something his body can process. But one parcel a month is not enough to repair the damage or meet his growing needs.
“We need consistent healthy food — fruits, supplements, even dried fruits — anything to help him grow stronger,” his mother pleaded. “Please, we would be so grateful for regular parcel each week for Mohammad. It truly helps him… and it gives me hope.”
Story 4 – Ali and Aaliyah’s Hunger
Thanks to your support, Ali (12 years old) and his little sister Aaliyah (2 years old) received a parcel of fresh vegetables.
Their mother explained that Aaliyah cries constantly from hunger: “I know she cries because she is hungry, but I cannot give her what she needs.”
Ali once relied on special medical food milk to keep his condition stable, but it has disappeared from Gaza since the war.
The fresh vegetables made a noticeable difference for both children. Their health worsens whenever they are forced to eat “regular” food, but there is often no other option. Their mother expressed her deep gratitude: “Even one parcel makes a difference. But they also need medical food milk.”
Story 5 – Three Children With a SharedStruggle
During the sixth phase of PKU food parcel distributions, our team in Gaza delivered a parcel to a family with three children living with the condition: Doaa, Asmaa, and Yousef.
This family has been struggling greatly due to the lack of suitable food. The parcel offered them a rare moment of relief.
Their father shared: “The moment the parcel arrived, we felt peace. It was wonderful to finally have healthy food for them.”
With deep gratitude, he added: “We truly hope there will be more healthy parcels in the future — and, if possible, diapers for Doaa as well.”
