Overview
Bridging the gap between crisis and care
Rivers of Mercy was founded in memory of Yussef Ahmad, with a mission to provide life-saving healthcare to Palestinian communities. What began as a heartfelt response to urgent medical needs has grown into a vital initiative, providing free healthcare, humanitarian relief, and long-term community support.
Our mission
Deliver compassionate, high-quality medical care and essential humanitarian aid.
Our impact
Read our Impact Report for 2025 to see how together were making a difference.
Who we are
Highly skilled medical and business professionals.
Our partners
Rivers of Mercy is privileged to work alongside global organisations.
Our mission
At the heart of Rivers of Mercy is a simple but powerful mission: to deliver compassionate, high-quality medical care and essential humanitarian aid to vulnerable communities in Palestine.
We believe that healthcare is a fundamental right, not a privilege. Through our dedicated teams, partnerships, and supporters, we provide urgent medical treatment, support families in crisis, and work towards sustainable solutions for a healthier future.
Our impact
At the heart of our mission is the Rivers of Mercy Clinic in Jericho, Palestine, where we provide free healthcare to over 50 patients every week. This clinic is a lifeline for individuals who would otherwise have no access to medical treatment. Our team delivers specialist wound care, rehabilitation, and ongoing support to ensure long-term recovery for those affected by crisis.
Unique patients being served by Rivers of Mercy Jericho Clinic
Home visits conducted
Patients receiving comprehensive psychological support
People received wound care and nursing
Mothers and women received comprehensive prenatal and postnatal care
Breastfeeding mothers provided with food parcels in Gaza.
Meet the team
Rivers of Mercy is led by highly skilled medical and business professionals, working in both the UK and Palestine.
- Palestine – medical professionals, nurses, and humanitarian workers provide direct patient care and critical aid.
- United Kingdom – senior NHS consultants, nurses, and advisory teams offer their expertise and guidance to uphold the highest standards of care.
- Volunteers and supporters – passionate individuals who believe in our mission and contribute their time, skills, and resources to expand our impact.
Haifa Abd-Al Hakeem
Founder and Chair
Haifa is a British-Palestinian nurse and the founder of Rivers of Mercy, a UK-registered charity devoted to improving access to healthcare for families in Palestine. Inspired by her late husband — a social worker, poet, and activist — Haifa founded the organisation to honour his legacy of compassion and service. Her work focuses on expanding specialist medical support in the West Bank and Gaza, particularly for mothers, infants, and patients living with chronic conditions. Based in Birmingham, she is an active member of her community and loves sharing her culture through traditional Middle Eastern cooking.
Farooq Hussain
Trustee
Farooq has been involved in the charity sector for nearly 30 years. Initially as a volunteer at the Citizens Advice Bureau, (now called Citizens Advice)and eventually going on to become a trustee and Chair of the trustee board of the organisation. During his time at Citizens Advice, the organisation inevitably went through significant change as a result of financial pressures from restructures, redundancies and amalgamation. Young people is his passion and he has worked in Young People services for over 25 years with an acute awareness of the challenges they face. Farooq says”I am walking on the shoulders of my parents who sacrificed so much in order for me to have a better start in life”.
Mariam
Project manager volunteer
Mariam brings over 20 years of experience in the NHS, where she has served as a Project Manager and Business Change Lead. Her deep commitment to ensuring equitable healthcare for all, regardless of background, ethnicity, or gender, aligns perfectly with the mission of Rivers of Mercy.
Throughout her NHS career, Mariam has successfully led several maternity electronic patient record implementations across England, championing the use of technology to enhance the maternity care pathway and promote a woman-centred approach to healthcare.
At Rivers of Mercy, Mariam’s wealth of experience and strategic insight are instrumental in supporting the establishment of new primary care clinics in Gaza and other regions across Palestine. Her passion for improving access to quality healthcare continues to inspire her work as part of the Rivers of Mercy team.
Tasneem Jafor
Administration and outreach volunteer
Tasneem is a dedicated young volunteer who supports Rivers of Mercy with appeals coordination, administration, and outreach work. At just 20 years old, she brings a genuine passion for charity and community service. Alongside her volunteering, she teaches children and loves finding ways to bring them joy and confidence. She also runs a small business, which allows her to use her creativity and organisational skills to support charitable initiatives.
Her compassion, commitment, and enthusiasm reflect the values at the heart of Rivers of Mercy’s mission. Deeply moved by the struggles faced by families in Palestine, she hopes to continue using her skills to help strengthen sustainable support for those in need. Guided by her faith and inspired by the collective spirit of Muslim charities, she aspires to play a lasting role in rebuilding lives and spreading hope where it’s needed most. Her dedication and kindness truly embody the spirit of Rivers of Mercy.
Our partners
We believe that meaningful change happens through collaboration. Rivers of Mercy is privileged to work alongside global organisations, community groups, and medical experts who share our vision.
Among our valued partners:
- SWAN London – supporting our breastfeeding initiatives and family health projects.
- Hidden Humanity – focused on humanitarian outreach and advocacy for vulnerable populations.
- Human Appeal – a non-profit organisation working across the globe to strengthen humanity’s fight against poverty, social injustice and natural disaster.
- Charity Right – specialise in food security and nutrition projects.
- Amani Trust – support health and education initiatives for marginalised communities.
- Center for Dharma Practice
- Local Palestinian businesses and artisans
