How to live when all your family was killed

A family devastated by an airstrike

In November 2024, an airstrike targeted the house next to 41-year-old Yasser’s home. It killed his wife and his children. Yasser sustained severe injuries and complex fractures, and he remained in a coma for nearly a month.

Yasser spent nearly a year in hospital undergoing multiple surgeries. Alongside his severe physical trauma, he faced profound grief when he woke from the coma and learned that his entire family had been killed.

Even simple daily tasks felt out of reach.

To regain his independence

Last July, HI rehabilitation team was directed to Yasser case. The team focused first on relieving his pain and rebuilding his muscle strength and mobility. A psychologist helped him cope with the emotional distress caused by his trauma and loss.

The specialists worked closely with him through targeted range-of-motion exercises, upper- and lower-limb strengthening, and occupational therapy sessions designed to restore his independence in daily activities.

The intervention led to significant functional gains. Yasser’s pain was almost completely relieved. His shoulder mobility and upper-limb strength improved substantially, enabling him to walk more than 2 kilometres, lift 5 kilograms above his head, and get up from the floor entirely on his own.

To regain his autonomy

Today, Yasser manages his daily life independently, from getting dressed and putting on his shoes to moving around without relying on others.

“Losing my family broke my heart, and my injuries took away my ability to move,” Yasser says. “HI’s support helped me rebuild my strength, manage my pain, and stand on my own feet again with dignity.”

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One year since the agreement of ceasefire, which was reached in October 2025, Palestinians continue to be killed and injured, while severe restrictions on humanitarian aid are leaving critical needs unmet and preventing people from accessing the assistance they urgently need.