Restoring Hope: Diabetes Care Amid Displacement of Gazans

In the aftermath of the war, thousands of displaced families in Gaza are struggling to regain access to essential healthcare services. Among them are hundreds of individuals living with diabetes, cut off from life-sustaining medication and monitoring devices due to Israel’s restrictions on essential medication and health tools. With funding and support from Healing Across the Divides (HATD), Diabetes Palestine (DP) has launched a vital project inside one of Gaza’s displacement camps to re-establish its presence and deliver urgent care to patients in need.

This project is a lifeline for people with diabetes who have endured months of crisis. DP’s dedicated team is going door-to-door and tent-to-tent, identifying patients, reconnecting them with health services, and ensuring that those most at risk have access to the treatment and support they need. Beyond its immediate impact, this initiative is also paving the way for other donors to contribute critical supplies, such as insulin and testing strips, helping sustain care in the long term.

“I am A.S., 18 years old, and I have been living with diabetes since I was 10,” shares one young patient. “The war was one of the worst periods I could ever imagine. We faced death, hunger, displacement, and fear, while access to insulin and healthcare was almost completely cut off. I thank God that I am still alive, but the war left deep scars on my life and my family’s lives. I am grateful to Diabetes Palestine for staying in touch during the war, and I was overjoyed to hear they opened a center in our displacement camp. I hope they continue helping us get the treatment and tests we need. Our needs are so great, and their support gives us hope.”

For frontline health professionals, the challenges have been equally immense.

“I am Dr. J.B., a diabetologist who has been caring for children and diabetes patients for the past ten years,” he explains. “This is the first time I ever felt powerless to help my patients. Everything around us was destroyed. We survived only by God’s grace, despite the lack of insulin, food, and clean water, and the spread of disease. Now, my team at Diabetes Palestine and I are working tirelessly to rebuild and to support our patients, many of whom are suffering from complications, psychological distress, and trauma.”

For Ahmad Abu Al-Halaweh, Chairperson of Diabetes Palestine, the partnership with HATD is a sign of solidarity and trust. “For me, HATD is not just a donor, it is a true partner who stands with us in all circumstances. HATD supports children with diabetes in the West Bank while also standing by Gaza in its most difficult times. Their support helped us establish a hotline for people with diabetes in Gaza and enabled us to reach those most in need.”

Through HATD’s funding and Diabetes Palestine’s unwavering commitment, hope is being restored—one patient, one tent, and one insulin vial at a time. Together, they are rebuilding pathways to health, dignity, and resilience in one of the most challenging environments in the world.

Want to see this lifesaving work firsthand?

Join Healing Across the Divides on our upcoming study tour to meet the grantees and witness the impact of these initiatives in action. As part of the tour, you’ll have the opportunity to meet with Dr. Ahmad Abu Al-Halaweh, based in Hebron in the West Bank, and learn directly from him and his dedicated team about their vital work.

This experience is not only deeply meaningful for participants but also for the grantees themselves, as it demonstrates solidarity and support for their efforts. Dr. Ahmad and his staff have shared how much it means to them to connect with those who care about their mission.
Learn more and sign up here: Healing Across the Divides Study Tour.