Rahaf’s quiet strength in the face of adversity
With support from ECHO, UNICEF stands with vulnerable families in Syria
Duma, Rural Damascus – In a modest home behind a small grocery shop in Duma, six-year-old Rahaf sits beside her mother, Najmeh. The winter cold lingers outside, but inside, the family is slowly rebuilding their life after years of displacement.
After returning to their damaged home, it was barely fit to live in. Walls were cracked. Windows were broken. There was little furniture. Najmeh and her husband, Mohammad, began rebuilding what they could, piece by piece.
But hardships did not end with their return. Mohammad lives with diabetes and struggles to meet the needs of his family.
Rahaf, once an active child, began experiencing serious health difficulties After months of medical consultation she was diagnosed with Rett syndrome,[1] a rare neurological condition. Rahaf now lives with partial paralysis, frequent seizures, and severe difficulties with speech and movement.
“I did not understand the name of the illness. But I understood the pain.”
Caring for Rahaf requires constant attention. At the same time, Najmeh worries about her eldest daughter, Batoul, who is in Grade 5. Having been unable to complete her own education, Najmeh is determined that her children will have better opportunities.
With support from the European Union’s Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO), UNICEF is providing humanitarian cash assistance to families facing heightened vulnerability. For Rahaf’s family, this support has helped install windows, buy warm clothes for the children, purchase medicine and nappies for Rahaf, and secure small amounts of fuel each day to protect them from the harsh winter cold.
The assistance has eased immediate financial pressure and allowed the family to prioritise their children’s care and education with dignity.
Despite the challenges, Najmeh remains determined. Each day, she balances care for her husband and daughter, holds on to hope for treatment for Rahaf, and encourages Batoul to continue learning.
Rahaf’s story is one of loss, but also of resilience. With sustained support, families like hers can begin to rebuild their lives and ensure that every child, no matter the circumstances, has a chance to survive, grow and thrive.
[1] Rett syndrome is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder, primarily affecting girls, that causes severe, progressive loss of motor skills, speech, and purposeful hand use.
Since the beginning of 2025, UNICEF has reached nearly 87,000 people through its broader Integrated Social Protection Cash+ programme. This support helps ensure that vulnerable children receive the care they need to grow and thrive.
