28.09.2026

Amir, 13, received help at a Red Cross field hospital in Gaza

Photo: ICRC

In Gaza, people are trying to survive without the basic necessities of life in the midst of a humanitarian crisis. There is a shortage of basic supplies, such as food and medicine. By donating to the Hunger Day collection, you can help where aid is needed most—in Finland and around the world. With your support, we provide people affected by disasters with shelter, food, clean water, and medical aid, among other things.

Amir Abu Musa, 13, was on his way to a wedding with his family when a car next to them exploded. Shrapnel from the blast struck Amir in the leg and back.

The conflict in Gaza has also forced Amir and his family to flee their home. Amir’s brother was killed in a strike that hit their home, and his mother and other brother were injured.

Field hospital treats those in need in Gaza

The Red Cross field hospital was the only place in the area where Amir’s injuries could be treated. Originally intended as a temporary solution for 6–12 months, the hospital has been helping patients in Rafah for over two years now.

Over the past two years, the field hospital has performed more than 11,300 surgeries, conducted more than 250,000 outpatient visits, assisted in more than 1,200 deliveries, provided more than 19,200 physical therapy sessions, and administered approximately 1,500 blood transfusions.

Surgeon Bhavna Chawla, who works at the Red Cross field hospital in Gaza, explains that even with limited resources, the field hospital can make a significant difference.

Initially, the field hospital in Rafah treated people who had fled to the area from other parts of Gaza, but within three weeks of the hospital’s establishment, people wounded in the attacks also began arriving there.

“In the operating room, the rest of the world fades into the background, and I focus solely on my task,” Chawla explains.

Photo: ICRC

The need for psychological support is enormous

In addition to acute health care, the need for psychological support is enormous.

- We work around the clock. Sometimes we see as many as 80 patients a day, says Turkya Abu Krayyem, a psychologist with the Palestinian Red Crescent.

“There are children who have undergone amputations. Even though their physical injuries have been treated, these children need psychological support to be able to move forward with their lives.” With that help, we can give them at least a little hope for the future, she says.

Amir dreams of a normal everyday life in the midst of conflict

Since his injury, Amir has not been able to return to school or see his friends.

I hope I get better so I can go back to school and the mosque. I'd like to play with my friends.

Amir Abu Musa, 13

To recover, Amir needs adequate nutrition: basic food items such as milk and eggs. However, there is a shortage of food in Gaza, and prices are too high for the family to afford it.

Help Where the Need Is Greatest

The field hospital is part of the Finnish Red Cross’s broader relief efforts to assist those affected by the Gaza-Israel conflict. These relief efforts are funded by the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs’ humanitarian aid budget and the Finnish Red Cross’s disaster relief fund. The Finnish Red Cross sends aid workers as well as financial and material support. The Finnish Red Cross also uses its Disaster Relief Fund to support the aid efforts of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society in Gaza and the West Bank.

In addition to Gaza, we provide aid around the world and in Finland wherever the need is greatest. The Disaster Relief Fund ensures that aid reaches its destination quickly and reliably. Approximately 90% of the fund’s donations come from private donors. Your support is of the utmost importance!