The Futurists Inside Gaza: Arwa Damon on Crisis, Resilience, and Access
Dec 6, 2025
Arwa Damon, a former CNN reporter and founder of INARA, shares her profound insights on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. She discusses her mental health journey as a frontline reporter and how that informs her mission to provide medical aid to children affected by war. Arwa emphasizes the importance of small acts of kindness amidst despair and the innovative ways Gazans cope with financial barriers. Her thoughts on the challenges of storytelling in conflict and the resilience of the Gazan community are both eye-opening and inspiring.
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Prioritize Mental Health Tools
- Do prioritize mental-health tools like EMDR and breathwork when working in conflict zones.
- Arwa Damon credits therapy and mind-body practices for preserving her ability to keep working in trauma settings.
Founding INARA From Frontline Witnessing
- Arwa Damon founded INARA to help war-injured children after witnessing unmet medical needs while reporting.
- She started the NGO in 2015 to provide complex medical and mental-health treatment for displaced children.
Generosity Persists Under Hardship
- People with almost nothing often show extraordinary generosity and hospitality in crises.
- Damon finds small acts of kindness carry immense meaning and drive her humanitarian work.