From Grief to Growth: Amal’s Story of Healing in Gaza

In Gaza’s Deir El Balah, 30-year-old Amal lives with a pain no mother should endure. In a single moment of violence, she lost her children, was separated from her husband, and left with physical and emotional scars. Amal was left utterly alone.

Before the conflict, Amal had a university degree and a life full of laughter and promise. But in the aftermath, grief and trauma clouded every part of her existence. “I used to cry every time I talked about what happened,” she said. “I didn’t want anyone to speak to me. Just mentioning my burns or injuries made me want to hide.”

Amal’s world had collapsed. But through Muslim Aid’s Inclusive Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Project, supported by your donations, Amal began to find a way back to herself.

She joined group counselling sessions, then received one-on-one support tailored to her needs. For the first time since her loss, she felt safe enough to speak, to process, and to begin healing. Slowly, the silence gave way to hope.

“I’m much better now,” she said. “I’ve learned to have more hope.”

Amal’s transformation reminds us that mental health care is not secondary to emergency response: it is essential. Healing from trauma is long and complex, but support systems can make all the difference. Today, Amal is reconnecting with others, managing her grief, and beginning to imagine a future again.

Thanks to your support, women like Amal are going beyond survival and toward healing, rebuilding, and reclaiming their lives, one step at a time.