Offering Psychological Aid under Unimaginable Conditions

Hayam Farhat, a 45-year-old mother of three, never imagined that her life’s work would be tested in ways she never thought possible. As the coordinator for the Women’s Affairs Center in Gaza, Hayam had spent years empowering women and providing them with critical support. But when war broke out on October 7, 2023, everything she knew and loved was torn apart. Her city became a battlefield, and the center where she worked was shut down, leaving many women stranded in desperate need of help.

Hayam, however, could not stand by. “How can I stay in my place while the women I worked with for years have lost everything?” she says. She was displaced along with thousands of other families, yet she refused to abandon the cause she had dedicated her life to. In the midst of chaos, Hayam and her team of volunteers moved into shelters, offering psychological first aid to women whose pain could no longer be hidden.

Even as the war raged on and Israeli airstrikes rocked her neighborhood, Hayam’s resolve never wavered. One day, when an airstrike hit a nearby building, the blast threw her backward. As she regained her senses, her first thought was, “Are my children safe?” Miraculously, they survived. With no time to mourn the devastation around her, Hayam gathered what little remained of her belongings and pressed on with her mission.

The greatest test came on May 22, 2024, when a quadcopter drone* shot her in the foot. In agony, Hayam thought, “Is this the end?” But as the blood poured, her determination only grew stronger: “I cannot stop now.” Despite the pain and doctors urging her to rest, Hayam returned to her mission within days, refusing to be stopped by her injuries. Later, while living in Rafah, another attack from a quadcopter left her with a head injury. But again, Hayam’s focus remained on the women who needed her. “There are women who need me,” she thought as she wiped the blood from her forehead.

In the months that followed, Hayam’s team worked tirelessly to support women and girls displaced by the war. They set up confidential reporting channels for survivors of sexual violence and distributed dignity kits to those with nothing left. As conditions worsened, Hayam and her team proposed replacing overcrowded tents with caravans that provided private bathrooms and safer living spaces. But getting these solutions into action was no easy task. Hayam highlighting the urgency of the crisis.

After 15 months of relentless war, Hayam is still standing strong, helping women rebuild their shattered lives. She fears not for her own life but for the safety of her family.

For Hayam, the pain of war is something she cannot erase, but her commitment to women’s dignity and survival remains unwavering.