Food as Medicine for Palestine's PKU Kids

Thanks to the generosity of our donors, we completed the ninth round of food parcel distribution in Gaza. 

On March 25, our team launched the ninth phase of PKU food parcel distribution, supporting 190 patients across Gaza with essential nutrition—52 parcels in Gaza City, 37 in Deir Al-Balah, and 101 in Khan Younis.

• Each parcel cost $120 and included 2 kilograms each of apples, oranges, pomegranates, pears, clementines, tomatoes, potatoes, cucumbers, cauliflower, onions, pumpkin, lemons, and many more items. Olive oil was also included.
• These parcels make sure children living with Phenylketonuria get the nutrition they need and protect them from serious harm and permanent brain damage. 

For families living with PKU, this support feels like a miracle. Parents expressed their gratitude, saying these regular checkins mean so much—not only for the food, but also for the reassurance that their children are remembered.

Two PKU parents spoke to our team members in detail about the importance of receiving low-protein food parcels regularly. 

• Three-year-old Ameer, who has PKU, received a parcel from our team. His father is deeply concerned about Ameer’s health. 

“I have lost access to healthcare for my son. There are no doctors, no checkups, no blood monitoring. We are living in the unknown—we don’t know where this is going. With the lack of formula and limited resources, my son is suffering. I just pray that God protects him.”

Vegetables sometimes appear in the market, but their high prices make them out of reach. Ameer needs a strict lowprotein diet, yet the alternatives are missing. “Corn bread is not available, so he is forced to eat regular wheat bread, even though it contains high protein and is not suitable for him,” his father explained.

Ameer’s behavior has changed. “He has become very hyperactive and stubborn, not like other children.”

His father expressed gratitude. “We are truly thankful to all the supporters and Rebuilding Alliance for their continuous support and for always checking on us. We hope this support continues.”

• Tulin and Tasneem, two young girls with PKU, also received a parcel. Their mother was deeply grateful for the food support. Nutrition has become one of the family’s greatest challenges. Vegetables are sometimes available in the market, but their high cost makes them unaffordable.

Their mother explained: “Healthy food is simply too expensive for us. Their father has no work, and we can’t afford it. Most of our food comes from the community kitchen, and it’s not healthy for them. There is no suitable flour for them. They eat regular bread, even though it affects them badly.”

She notices the impact on her daughters—one becomes more irritable after eating it. “When we managed to get the medical formula, I noticed some improvement, but it’s still not enough.”

She also described how their health has been affected: “Tulin has been delayed in walking, and Tasneem struggles to focus. I tried to enroll her in kindergarten, but they refused to accept her.”

With little to no income, parents rely on your generosity to feed their children. Your generosity makes this vital work possible. PKU patients require regular deliveries—not onetime aid. With your support, we can ensure these lifesaving parcels continue reaching the children who depend on them every single day. 

Thank you for all that you do.

Links:

• See video interviews of PKU families