Food as Medicine for Palestine's PKU Kids

With your support, Rebuilding Alliance continues to provide life-saving nutrition to children with Phenylketonuria (PKU) in Gaza. Our team in Gaza, under the supervision of dietitian Dr. Hamooda finished the fourth phase of food parcels for PKU children, providing food parcels to 180 PKU patients across Gaza. Despite the challenging conditions, constant bombings and massive displacements, our team completed this phase. 

As famine spreads and prices are high, these life-saving parcels offer a rare source of nutrition and dignity for the most vulnerable families. Each parcel is carefully prepared to meet the strict dietary needs of children with PKU — a rare metabolic condition that makes it dangerous for them to eat high-protein foods. The boxes include fresh vegetables like zucchini, tomatoes, eggplants, potatoes, molokhia, and cucumbers, along with fruits, canned jams and pineapple, olive and corn oil, and essential hygiene items like shampoo and laundry detergent.

The war has cut off access to the special low-protein diet PKU children need to survive. Markets are empty, prices are skyrocketing, and most families are struggling to find anything fresh or nourishing. The children who came to receive the parcels showed visible signs of fatigue and hunger. For many, it was their first time in weeks seeing fruits and vegetables — a heartbreaking reflection of the crisis gripping Gaza. PKU families extended their heartfelt thanks to every donor whose generosity made this possible. 

• Ten-year-old Razan, who received a food parcel, said, “I just want to eat,” Razan broke down in tears while speaking to our team member. Her words reflect the heartbreaking daily struggle she and other PKU patients face in accessing a suitable diet for themselves due to the war and blockade. Without access to the special formula, flour, fruits, and vegetables, she’s forced to eat meals from soup kitchens with her family — meals like pasta and rice that are dangerous for her condition. Her father shared the painful reality of rising prices and food shortages, making it nearly impossible to provide the fresh produce Razan needs. He stressed how critical these parcels are — and pleaded for regular, tailored food assistance to help keep his daughter safe and healthy.
• Among the recipients was also 7-year-old Haya, who lost her father, her home, and several family members in the recent attacks. With the crossings closed for over two months and food prices soaring, her family is struggling to meet even the most basic needs. Still, Haya came with her mother to receive the parcel — not just to say thank you, but to ask for clothes and a few toys.
• Naji, a resident of the Shuja'iyya neighborhood and a father of a child with PKU, shared the devastating impact of war on families like his. With no access to hospitals, medicine, or essential food like special formula and vegetables, life has become a daily struggle for survival. Now displaced and homeless, Naji shared how even one parcel can make a difference, especially for children with PKU who rely on a strict vegetarian diet. His message is clear: they have no one else to turn to. 
• Our team met 13-year-old Yassin and his younger brother Tareq. Both boys were overjoyed to receive their food parcel containing special food for them. However, their smiles could not hide the pain they carry within. A few months ago, they lost their father in a bombing in Khan Younis. While retrieving their father's body, the boys were exposed to a deeply traumatic experience that continues to impact them daily. Their mother is working hard to keep the family together. She expressed her gratitude for the food parcels and called for psychological support in addition to the ongoing supply of food.

Thank you for making this possible. Your support is not just feeding PKU patients—it’s giving them a chance to survive and thrive.

Links:

• Your food parcel donation brings vital relief to a PKU child in
• The struggles of PKU patients in Gaza
• Your generosity provides lifesaving food to PKU children in Gaza