Honored for Humanity: Life for Relief and Development (LIFE) Wins Dubai Humanitarian Award (DXBH) for Shelter Project in Gaza
- ajoyce140
- 25 minutes ago
- 4 min read
Redefining Home in a Fragmented World
In a time when the world feels increasingly divided by borders, ideologies, and crises, an extraordinary act of compassion, cooperation and connection stands out. Life for Relief and Development (LIFE) has been honored with the 2025 Dubai Humanitarian Award (DXBH Award) for its Gaza Emergency Shelter Project. This project brought together people from all over the world, including people from diverse backgrounds, different countries and people within Gaza, everyone working together in an effort to ease suffering in Gaza.
A Shelter Initiative Born of Urgency
The project addressed a great need for shelter in Gaza, providing over 20,000 people with shelter. Home to one of the worst current humanitarian crises in recent history, Gaza’s people have lost over 50,000 lives, 18,000 of them children, witnessed 100,000 injured, and seen 2 million displaced. Unfortunately, the need for shelter is growing, as the crisis shows no signs of slowing.
Homelessness is everywhere. Without shelter, families are left vulnerable to the harsh elements, extreme rain, wind, bitter winters, and scorching summers. This ultimately increases the risk of illness. Families living in open areas, under rubble, or in makeshift shelters are exposed not only to natural dangers but also to violence, chaos, and instability.
LIFE’s Solution
Much effort was spent to source a reliable supplier of durable tents that were weather and fire-resistant. The final design was able to comfortably accommodate up to five people. The tents were equipped with windows and doors for ventilation and access.
To date, LIFE has procured over 7,000 high-quality, durable tents from Turkey and managed complex international transportation through Jordan into Gaza, overcoming security and access restrictions.
Once the LIFE team crossed the border, they worked to construct and distribute the tents as quickly as possible to the most affected areas. The project established tents in Al-Musalaba (South of Al-Zaytoun District), tents on Al-Dahdouh Street (Gaza City), and tents in Al-Atatra (Beit Lahia, North Gaza). Additionally, tents were set up in Al-Mawasi (Rafah and Khan Younis, South Gaza), tents in Al-Attar Camp, and more tents were distributed directly to families across Gaza. Throughout the process, there was joint planning and real-time communication within LIFE’s team, ensuring smooth operations.
Challenges Overcome
The challenge was significant: over 2 million people were homeless, with no materials available within Gaza to construct shelters on a mass scale. The project was time-sensitive, as families were exposed to the elements day in and day out. LIFE’s team had limited access to the affected areas, while disrupted infrastructure and communication systems prolonged coordination between team members on the ground. Humanitarian workers faced immense danger due to the volatile environment.
Photo of a LIFE team member looking at a LIFE tent camp that was just constructed.
The Dubai Humanitarian Award
The Dubai Humanitarian Award, founded by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, is presented annually to organizations that demonstrate remarkable collaboration and innovation in humanitarian response. This year, it was LIFE’s emergency tent shelter project that stood out from efforts around the world for a number of reasons.
Life for Relief and Development (LIFE) demonstrated effective coordination, strong partnerships, and resourcefulness in overcoming severe logistical and geopolitical challenges. Their humanitarian workers bravely risked their lives to provide shelter to those in need. Despite extreme difficulties, LIFE successfully provided shelter to over 20,000 civilians in Gaza. By engaging local organizations and international donors, the project garnered global support, exemplifying the power of collective action.
Representatives Khalil Meek, Chief Development Officer, and Abed Alawneh, Community Relations Coordinator, accepted the award on behalf of LIFE, recognizing their groundbreaking work amid extreme adversity in Gaza.
“Life for Relief and Development has shown outstanding commitment to partnership, one of the core pillars of effective humanitarian action,” said Giuseppe Saba, CEO of Dubai Humanitarian. “Their recognition reflects the collaborative spirit that drives our community of over 80 member organizations and companies.”
More than Shelter
Through this project, thousands of displaced families and individuals received durable shelter. Families and people who were once living isolated from each other came together in various camp locations creating communal hubs. These hubs have allowed humanitarian workers to set up more permanent service centers which provide aid more easily to more people. As a result, these tent communities have given civilians access to essential services like sanitation, food, and medical care.
A Sense of Home
Psychologically, displacement erodes more than physical space, it shakes one’s sense of self, stability, and security. By creating safe, dignified communal environments, LIFE’s shelters offered more than survival, they restored a sense of home.
Mental health professionals stress the importance of structure, routine, and human connection in trauma recovery. These shelters became spaces of emotional grounding, particularly for children who had lost everything.
“You can’t heal without a safe place,” noted one humanitarian psychologist who consulted on the project. “These tents, modest as they are, provide the emotional scaffolding people need to begin again.”
Celebrating and Inspiring a Vision for Collective Compassion
The Dubai Humanitarian Award doesn't just celebrate past achievement; it inspires future efforts. As conflicts and natural disasters continue to uproot millions worldwide, LIFE’s Gaza Shelter Project works as a blueprint for how humanitarian organizations can respond in the future. LIFE’s work in Gaza also reminds us that we are all connected and inspires us to work together to solve the problems with a shared sense of humanity.
“This award belongs to every donor, every volunteer, and every team member who believed that even in darkness, we could build light,” said Dr. Hany Saqr. “It is proof that when we come together, we can create shelter, not just from the storm, but from despair itself.”
