援手 A Helping Hand
援手 A Helping Hand
18 Oct 2026
3 am. I am wide awake.
My kitten woke me up at 2 am.
I had a sip of hot camomile and lavender tea.
Then social media scrolling led me to this video:
“I wish I was in heaven where my mother is.
In heaven there is love; there is food; there is water.”
Source: Save The Children UK
https://shorturl.at/oswfv
My heart skipped a beat.
Not because of excitement but heaviness.
Wars can cause so much damage — lives, health and homes.
On 11 October 2025, my daughter and I witnessed the massive demonstration that took place in central London.
This happened on the day after an Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement had come into effect in Gaza.
A fine day. Sunny. Blue sky.
While we were walking past Trafalgar Square,
the crowd caught my eye.
“Let’s stop for a moment.” I said.
I felt the people’s anger, grief and courage.
Flags. Noise. Determination.
Belonging. Togetherness. Hope.
The Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) and the Palestine Coalition organised the 32nd national demonstration since the conflict intensified in October 2023.
Tens of thousands of people flocked in from various directions.
It was peaceful, but I could just feel their frustration and passion.
A gentleman was standing by the stand, giving out copies of the Quran to the public.
I spoke to him, and he gave me one.
I was more keen to know what drove so many people to come make their voice heard.
The two-minute silence during the march stayed with me.
When all the demonstrators lowered the Palestine flags and mourned for those who lost their lives during the war.
When one of the demonstrators delivered a speech about ending the war and helping those who have been suffering.
When I saw the determination in the eyes of the women, men, the elderly, children and some adults in wheelchairs during the march.
These people are not royal families but citizens.
These ordinary people decided to get together and demand change — “lasting peace”.
Peace seems to be one of the most invaluable things in the world.
It’s hard to obtain sometimes.
A few doctors who worked in Gaza shared their experiences online.
What these practitioners described saddens me.
Can you imagine a five-year-old child being amputated without sedation?
We live in a world where some children want the latest iPhone.
We live in a world where some adults pursue posh cars, mansions and titles.
We live in a world where food is not cherished.
Comfy beds.
Clean water.
Food on the table.
The basic needs are met in one world but not in the other.
It seems that we live in a parallel world.
One world is suffering.
The other is enjoying the abundance.
「看不見，可是你依舊存在」”Though invisible, you are still there.” / “Although I cannot see you, you still exist.”
- 蔣經國 Chiang Ching-kuo (The former President of Taiwan)
This quote expresses that love, spirit, and memory transcend physical presence and death.
Even when a loved one is gone and can no longer be seen, their impact and essence remain alive within our hearts.
I would like to extend “Though invisible, you are still there.” to this:
When people lead a comfortable life,
it is easy to forget about those who are in pain and those who are facing hardships.
Humanitarian relief is much needed even though we are not the ones who work in the frontline to witness each heartbreaking moment.
💛 Be there for the weak.
💛 Be there for the vulnerable.
💛 Be the one who is willing to give.
The interview — The doctor shared his experience in Gaza.
“Orthopedic surgeon, Dr Mark Perlmutter, recounts amputating the leg of a five-year-old girl in Gaza without anesthesia after supplies ran out during Israel’s genocidal war. He said doctors sang to her as she remained awake through the procedure.”
Instagram video:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DcGTkgZD1G_/?rpxt=MXRvYmdjaGo5ZGI4bw==
YouTube video:
https://youtube.com/shorts/PcUw0GBm5Rk?si=9-1GGqpQY-MkV7Ac
The little girl got a biscuit after a kind person offered to get one for her.
I have seen some children in Taiwan and the UK waste food and demand their families to give them certain food and drinks.
“If you don’t give me pizza, I will not eat anything.”
-> Such a threat.
If my child said this, she would have nothing to eat. She could wait until the next meal was served.
“If you don’t buy me the Nike trainers, I will not study hard.”
-> Really? Isn’t your life your responsibility?
“If you don’t…, I will …”
-> Who trains these children to be so arrogant?
Every time I see these happen, I am speechless.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DeCc_myq8q0/?psln=dGZ1ZHpleG52dzZs
Another doctor shared his experience in Gaza.
This is heartbreaking. 💔
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DddF_qAje_k/?psln=MXR0Z3MzNzJ4b3RiYQ==
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What kind of world are we living in?
No shelter.
No home.
No care.
Children and adults in war zones are facing such cruelty.
We have got to do something.
The image of the little girl holding her younger brother in the rubble in Gaza is hard to forget. 💔
Humans’ evil has caused so many lost lives.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DdmJKChCUFE/?exln=N20xdWQ5MGlpNjJr
What would you wish for?
“A simple question reveals how differently childhood can look around the world. When children are asked what they would wish for, many imagine things connected to comfort, success, or material dreams.
But for children growing up surrounded by hardship, conflict, or poverty, those wishes can look completely different. Instead of luxury or wealth, their hopes may focus on basic needs, safety, family, and a better life.”
YouTube link:
What would you wish for?
https://youtube.com/shorts/TKohscjNl_w?si=q-UOPQPrhkfPUVE7
The contrast between two groups of children got me thinking again.
I shared this video and this post with my daughter.
I would like her to understand that she has so much and she has the power to do something to make a difference.
I hope that she can use whatever she has to bring light to some people.
Earning a lot of money is nice.
How we use money and what we use our resources for matter.
Wars not only left permanent scars in people but also caused huge impacts on humans’ lives and hearts.
Think about it.
How do children in war zones develop?
The research’s findings “revealed high rates of mental health disorders driven by violence, loss and displacement. Interventions such as community-based programmes, telemedicine and culturally adapted care show promise but there are gaps, including the need for longitudinal studies and gender-specific analyses.”
“Recent studies indicate high prevalence rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (54% in children, 40% in adults), depression (41% in children, 45% in adults), and anxiety (34% in children, 37% in adults).”
Source: A narrative review of mental health and psychosocial impact of the war in Gaza
❤️🩹 Christopher — Permanent Scars
“Just know you left a permanent scar inside my chest,
now the rest of us is history
Look at all this mess that you left, unsolved mysteries
Did you try your best?
Cause I did, and I made it this far
Just know you left a permanent scar”
As a mother and an educator, I simply can’t imagine the life of children in war zones.
The videos and photos I saw on various social media platforms are not only shocking but also making my heart sink.
The refugees shared their stories with me when I taught them in school and when I attended meetings with them and their lawyers before hearings in court in the UK.
A lot of time I couldn’t help them much.
All I could do was trying my best to interpret accurately and teaching the children English and some life skills.
And I don’t know if that is enough.
This morning it took me a couple of hours to regain peace after reading articles about Gaza and watching videos about people living in Gaza.
We can all carry on living our own life.
We can brush it off, only focusing on self growth.
I still hope more people are willing to do something to change the horrible situation.
The image of the little girl holding her younger brother in the rubble in Gaza stays vivid in my mind.
Who can be there for them?
Dr Gabor Maté answers question about October 7th during conference
His reply is powerful.
The woman said, “The massacre happened in Israel where young children are murdered, burnt, babies in ovens. How do I find compassion for these people? The animals who did that.”
Dr Gabor Maté replied, “That is not how I see the world.”
“That place where we call other people animals if you want to live there that’s your choice. I don’t want to live there. I want to understand people.”
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
“While presenting at the Premier Trauma Therapy Conference in California, US, physician and trauma expert Dr Gabor Maté was asked by a member of the audience about the 7th October attack on Israel and how someone could have compassion for those involved in the attack.
Dr Maté responded by stating that history did not begin on 7th October and drew a comparison between the treatment of indigenous Palestinians and that of indigenous communities in Canada and the United States. His comments received multiple rounds of applause from the audience.”
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/Db0uaFcgy-E/?obrf=a2RsdTNhcXlzMzM3
YouTube:
https://youtu.be/D-5cuqyRM9w?si=4l5yEQMBSvzgSTbv
“Over 74,000 women and children have been killed in Gaza. Humanitarian aid continues to be blocked.”
“No child should have to learn survival before learning to live.”
https://www.instagram.com/reel/Dep-ao4Np7Z/?srtk=OWgwZW9qaTg3czlm
I don’t know when the children and adults will receive the aid they need.
I don’t know how many videos and photos about Gaza will be shared in the coming month.
I do know that I will continue to share what happens in Gaza until this comes to an end.
When people stop caring, those who need care and help will have no way out.
How can a country be able to cause such a huge impact and do great evil to kill so many humans?
How can elected politicians and world leaders allow this living hell to continue for years?
The protest in Stockholm on 17 October 2026
https://youtube.com/shorts/a3XQ8HXOwdw?is=n8QDEvgSyUnLNZwT
“Hundreds march through Stockholm, Sweden, protesting Israeli attacks on Gaza and calling for an end to war.”
‘No Kings’ rallies in the USA
17 October 2026
https://youtu.be/EgSvAVon-NM?is=hIxoZT1x_FZuNFyw
💜No Kings
The Guardian
“Thousands of people have gathered in central London to express their support for Palestinians after three years of “genocide” carried out against them by Israel.”
