Emergency Support for Palestinian Refugees (WB)

Dear Friends, 

We hope this message finds you very well. It has been a little bit since we updated you here on this page. By mistake we didn't update this specific blog but know that Karama's team have been working tirelessly that last few months. But before we update you, first a message of gratitude. 

To our unwavering supporters and donors: Your solidarity is the lifeline that sustains us. In these harrowing times, as Palestinians endure unimaginable suffering under occupation and genocide, your generosity reminds us that humanity’s light cannot be extinguished. Every donation, every shared post, and every word of encouragement fuels our resolve to keep fighting for dignity, hope, and justice. Together, we prove that solidarity is not just a word—it’s an act of resistance.

Now on to the news updates. The last months, especially during Ramadan, we worked hard to distribute your gifts and donations to the most needed household; reaching over 30 households in the camp with food packages and support in paying medical bills. 
Also, we’re thrilled to announce the near-completion of our new playground in Deheishe Camp—a safe space for children to laugh, play, and reclaim fragments of childhood amid chaos. Volunteers are working tirelessly to finalize the project, and we’ll soon share photos of its grand opening!
Meanwhile, our women-run community kitchen remains a beacon of resilience. From hearty meals for families displaced by violence to catering weddings and gatherings, these women are rewriting narratives of strength. Their dishes carry more than flavor—they carry stories of perseverance.

Looking ahear to the summer! This summer, we will double down our efforts to create safe, enriching environments for Deheishe’s children through community-led summer camps and daily activities designed to blend fun with learning. Amid the relentless realities of genocide and occupation, these programs offer vital moments of respite—spaces where children can rediscover laughter, build friendships, and explore their potential.

While trauma lingers in every corner of the camp, your support allows us to prioritize activities that nurture curiosity, teamwork, and hope. From interactive games that teach problem-solving to collaborative art projects that celebrate Palestinian heritage, every initiative is a step toward healing. Palestinian children here are not just surviving; they are fighting to reclaim childhoods stolen by violence. Together, we can ensure that even in darkness, their dreams are never extinguished.

We Need You Now More Than Ever! Keep standing with us. Together, we build playgrounds, laugther and futures where the occupation seeks to erase them.

With boundless gratitude,
The Karama Team

Thank you for reading our message. The situation for Palestinian is extremely dire at the moment and I would like to briefly share with you some thing that are going on in the West Bank and with Karama Organization. I will write you the projects Karama Organization has been doing since last October (2023). Since the war started, many Palestinian workers have lost their jobs and income. In Bethlehem region alone, thousands used to work in what is called Israel and weren’t able to get to their employers anymore after cancellation of their permits. In addition, the closure of checkpoints in all of the West Bank soon had an impact on the livelihood of people here as all business slowed down. Therefore, our first project was started in November to distribute food parcels to the most needed: 700 food packages were distributed worth 350 NIS or 100 USD. Later, Karama also started a cash for work project, where we would hire some of unemployed workers in small projects around the camp. The worker would work for 10 to 15 days and get paid 30 USD per day. The type of activities they did included cleaning the streets, painting walls and making sure public areas in the camp were safe, accessible and clean.

We also made sure to assist any families in need with food and medicine; covering for them the cost of medication and making sure we were able to obtain the medicine through our network when shortages existed. In addition, Karama was in contact with many university or college students in the camp who shared their struggles to cover university fees. We stepped in for several cases and helped them pay their fees for the semester.

Besides, Karama worked in an area at the border of the camp to create a children’s playground. In this area we will also make a water well, to have more water available for the camp residents and services. The well will be around 50 square meter. Not importantly, Karama Organization also implemented entertainment activities for children of the camp to help them enjoy their time and provide stress relief.

Moreover, Karama cooperated with the UNRWA and the local electricity company to develop the electricity in the camp and make sure it is safe. This donation included helping with building a room for the generators in the camp, so there will be less fall out of the electricity during the winter time where previously wind or rain could do damage and cause problems.

Finally, Karama worked together to rehabilitate the girls school of the camp, to make it ready for school year 2024-2025 and paint certain areas of it. Now the school year has started and we will support the UNRWA school committee in any needs that they have to safely educate our children.

 Unfortunately, in a few short months we might not be able to continue this type of work anymore. Right now, we are urgently trying to assist families again with food packages, as the number of families living in poverty has risen greatly and a huge number of families can’t afford food. We have had to let go of most of our staff members who used to work part-time and full-time and we now only have part-time staff and volunteers. This is not sustainable for us as an organization and we are already seeing the difficulties of this; in our capacity to keep up with our administration, social media and building for example. Help Karama stay a reliable, active partner for the vulnerable communities in Bethlehem area and please consider supporting our work.