"My greatest fear is that we’ll die here in this tent”: A displaced mother’s daily struggle in Gaza

Running for life with five children, two battling with cancer

When we first fled, a tank was in front of our house. They shouted at us in English, ‘Go, go, go!’ Since then, we’ve stayed in five different schools and with relatives. We’ve been living in this tent since January. When we first arrived, it was freezing, and at night we could see our breath. It was also raining, and water poured into the tent.

Our lives have been incredibly challenging since then. Two of my sons are battling with cancer. One has a tumor in his brain, while the other has cancerous cells throughout his body, including his lungs, stomach, and pancreas.

Before the war, we gave everything to afford their medication. My husband was a sanitation worker. Our home was concrete. We had a fan, a refrigerator for medicine, and we made sure the kids ate healthy—oranges, kiwi, juice, milk, and chicken breast. Now, we can’t even provide the basics.

The worst part is that we can no longer get our sons treatment. Before the war, we took them regularly to Tal Shomer Hospital outside Gaza. Now, we’re trapped.

Beyond miserable living conditions

When we fled, we were so terrified we couldn’t take anything with us. My boys still wear winter clothes. That’s all we have from when we left in winter. We don’t have the money to buy new clothes. Our mattresses, blankets, and clothes are covered in dust and dirt. Without water or detergent, we can’t keep them clean.

Insects and flies are everywhere, and the stench is unbearable. There are no bathrooms, and the heat is intense. We can only bathe every two weeks because we don’t have enough water. We also lack cleaning supplies and soap.

We’re constantly hungry. With the borders closed, it’s difficult to find things in the market, and prices have skyrocketed. We’ve received some aid from organizations, including canned food, rice, and beans, but without it, we’d have nothing. We often go days without eating.

Sometimes we gather Khoubeza, a wild vegetable, and sell it. The last time, we only made 2 shekels (50 cents), which we used to buy a lemon. Finding Khoubeza takes hours of walking, and I’ve lost 30 pounds (13 kg) since the war began. All my children have lost weight too. My 3-year-old daughter has lost over 10 pounds, and my sons have lost 10 to 15 pounds. They were already underweight for their age.

This war has filled me with deep humiliation. The hunger, illness, and constant fear of death are unbearable. Every night, we go to bed wondering if we’ll wake up the next morning.

Constant fear of death: No safety or hope

War has taken an enormous toll on us.

I sometimes feel like I cannot think straight, as if my mind has shut down. I get a lot of headaches. I also suffer from heart problems and high blood pressure. The bombs are still flying around us, and sometimes shrapnel hits close to our tent. There’s never a moment when we can take a deep breath and feel safe or hopeful again.

 My greatest fear is that we’ll die here in this tent. I wish the war would end soon, so we can get our children the medical care they need. I hope the world will see our suffering and understand how this war is starving us and condemning our children to die of cancer.

*Name changed

CARE continues to call for an immediate ceasefire, the return of all hostages, and the passage of unfettered humanitarian aid into Gaza. Click below to find out how you can help.