The suffering of families displaced by the war in Gaza: a life of ashes and tents

As the war in the Gaza Strip continues, thousands of families have been forced to leave their homes under bombardment and flee to less dangerous locations, finding themselves facing harsh living conditions in overcrowded shelters or temporary tents lacking even the most basic necessities.

"We left our home without taking anything," says Umm Luay, a displaced woman living with her six children in a shelter in the southern Gaza Strip. "We thought we would return in a few hours, but we've been here for more than a year and a half, without a mattress, without clothes, and with no immediate hope of returning."

In shelters, families share a room or classroom, without privacy, ventilation, or adequate sanitary facilities, exacerbating the suffering of women, children, and the sick. Skin diseases and respiratory problems are widespread due to overcrowding and poor environmental conditions.

Relief organizations confirm that the humanitarian situation inside these centers is worsening by the day, due to a shortage of aid and the difficulty of accessing many areas affected by the ongoing bombing. They explain that some families are living in dilapidated tents or destroyed homes, without clean water or sufficient food.

Displaced families are also suffering from a severe psychological crisis, especially children who live in a constant state of fear. "We try to keep the children busy with simple activities, but the signs of trauma are evident on their faces, and many of them suffer from sleep and speech disorders," says teacher Samar, who works as a psychological volunteer at one of the shelters.

As the war continues, the number of displaced people increases daily, while there are no permanent solutions or clear plans for their return to their destroyed homes. Displaced families are demanding adequate shelter, food and healthcare, and a guarantee of their safe return to their homes after a ceasefire.

While the suffering continues, life in displacement centers remains temporary in name only, but in reality it has become a permanent reality for thousands of families, awaiting the end of the war and clinging to the hope of return, despite the ashes and rubble.