Camp No. 8 – Orphan Care Center in Gaza: Restoring Hope amid Rubble
2025-11-08
In a new humanitarian initiative demonstrating Egypt’s solidarity with the Palestinian people, the Egyptian Committee inaugurated Camp No. 8 – Orphan Care Center in Al-Zawaida, central Gaza. The camp is Gaza’s first dedicated to supporting orphaned children and widows, as part of a series of camps established by the Egyptian Committee across the Gaza Strip to shelter those affected by recent attacks and provide comprehensive humanitarian assistance.
Life amid Hardship
The camp forms part of Egypt’s broader plan to ensure a dignified life for the most vulnerable, particularly orphaned children and widowed mothers left without a guardian. It includes fully equipped housing units, a small school, a psychosocial support center, essential service facilities, and safe play areas for children.
The inauguration of Camp No. 8 delivers a clear humanitarian message: it is foremost an initiative for human care, not merely a relief project. In its initial phase, the camp hosts over 700 orphaned children alongside their mothers or guardians, offering comprehensive education, healthcare, and psychosocial support
Community Collaboration
The camp was established in partnership with local authorities and Gaza’s heads of families, who supervise the organization and delivery of aid to eligible recipients both within and beyond the camp. The Egyptian Committee maintains daily coordination with local community institutions to ensure the sustainable provision of education, healthcare, and food services, in addition to psychosocial support programs overseen by Egyptian specialists and partner humanitarian organizations.
Wafaa Abu Galala, director of the orphan care center at the camp, emphasized that the project seeks to create a safe and nurturing environment for children who have lost their loved ones. She also highlighted plans to expand the camp’s capacity and to introduce vocational training workshops for widowed mothers, aiming to enhance their economic empowerment.
Comprehensive Humanitarian Services
Camp No. 8 is among the most fully equipped in the series of Egyptian-established camps, designed as a comprehensive center for humanitarian care and education.
The camp features:
A small school enabling children to continue their education in a safe environment.
A psychosocial support center offering both group and individual sessions.
Essential medical and health services supervised by Egyptian and Palestinian medical teams.
Recreational and educational activities aimed at promoting children’s social and psychological reintegration.
The Committee emphasizes that the camp is not merely a temporary shelter, but a holistic humanitarian project seeking to build a new future for orphaned children in Gaza, equipping them with life skills, education, and the ability to adapt after the crisis.
A Steadfast Egyptian Message
The inauguration of Camp No.8 is part of Egypt’s ongoing efforts to restore life across the Gaza Strip through shelter, aid distribution, and support for education and health projects. The Egyptian Committee emphasized that the camp is the first step toward a network of initiatives for the most vulnerable, affirming its commitment “to ensure no Palestinian child is left without shelter, education, or care.”
Camp No. 8 – the Orphan Care Center – stands as a unique humanitarian model, reflecting Egypt’s enduring support for Gaza and offering children a new home and renewed hope.
