Supporting Displaced Communities in Israel

Between February 28, 2026 and April 8, 2026, communities across Israel experienced a period of heightened insecurity amid escalating tensions between Iran and Israel. Repeated - and for some communities, constant - ballistic missile attacks forced families to spend extended periods in shelters and protected spaces, disrupting daily life and placing significant emotional strain on children, caregivers, and communities.

IsraAID’s emergency response worked non-stop to support affected communities through rapid psychosocial and community-based interventions designed to strengthen resilience and promote emotional well-being.

During this period, IsraAID distributed more than 1,000 resilience kits to heavily affected areas across northern Israel, central, and southern Israel. These kits provided practical tools and activities to help children and parents cope with stress, anxiety, and uncertainty during ongoing missile attacks. At the same time, additional community resilience kits were placed in bomb shelters in vulnerable towns across northern Israel, helping create small spaces of calm, connection, and support during prolonged periods of sheltering.

In the Ma’ale Yosef Regional Council, one community member who established a small activity hub for children in a shelter shared:

“We received the activity kit yesterday for the small gathering space we set up, and I was truly moved. The kit was full of so many things – I honestly couldn’t believe the amount of materials inside. It means a lot to know that someone is thinking about our children who are spending time in the shelter with their friends. You can see the thought that went into preparing it, and it will really help lift the children’s spirits.”

Alongside distributing resilience kits to heavily affected communities, IsraAID teams worked closely with local councils and partners to ensure these tools were used effectively. This included delivering targeted trainings for community facilitators focused on supporting children experiencing stress and crisis, strengthening local response capacity, and promoting psychosocial well-being. Dedicated Arabic-language sessions were also delivered with partners serving Arabic-speaking communities, helping ensure culturally and linguistically accessible support.

IsraAID continues to work alongside local authorities, community organizations, and partners to provide accessible psychosocial support, strengthen community resilience, and help children and families navigate the ongoing challenges of conflict, insecurity, and prolonged sheltering. Your support means we can provide urgent humanitarian assistance wherever we're needed, as long as it takes.