DaysofPal – The first heavy rains of winter brought no relief to Gaza’s displaced families. For Samar al-Salmi and her family, the downpour turned their temporary tent into a flooded, muddy trap, threatening not only their belongings but also the imminent birth of her baby daughter.
Early one morning in Deir el-Balah, torrents of water crashed through their worn-out tent, jolting the family awake. Mattresses, clothing, and essential supplies lay drenched, while families scrambled to plug waterlogged holes and salvage what they could.
“All the baby’s clothes were soaked in mud,” Samar said, lifting the tiny garments. “Even the diapers and formula were submerged. How am I supposed to welcome my baby girl like this? ”
A Life Disrupted by War and Displacement
Samar, 35; her husband, Abdulrahman; and their three children are among the thousands displaced from their homes in Tal al-Hawa, southwest Gaza City, following Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza. Their parents and siblings live in neighboring tents, all struggling under the same harsh conditions.
“There are no words to describe how I feel,” Samar said, her voice breaking. “This is not a life. In the summer, it’s unbearably hot, and now the winter floods everything. What will we do when the real cold arrives?”
Abdulrahman, 39, described the chaos that morning: “The place was completely flooded, like a swimming pool. My wife and mother-in-law were screaming, my children were outside shivering, and the street was flooded. Everything was extremely difficult.”
For the couple, the rain is the latest blow in a long struggle. They face skyrocketing prices for essential items, with diapers costing 85 shekels ($26), up from 13 shekels ($4) before the war, and formula at 70 shekels ($21).
Samar is due to give birth soon, yet the conditions leave her terrified. She recounted trying to balance caring for her children, drying mattresses, and preparing for delivery. The couple fears welcoming their newborn into a flooded tent.
“I never imagined I would welcome the daughter we dreamed of under these conditions,” she said. “In my previous deliveries, I returned to my comfortable apartment. Now everything is gone.”
The family has been repeatedly displaced over the past two years, moving between Khan Younis, Rafah, Nuseirat, and Deir el-Balah. Every home they sought refuge in has been destroyed.
Their children, Mohammad, seven, Kinan, five, and Yaman, three, bear the brunt of the harsh conditions. “They’re shivering from the cold, their clothes are insufficient, and the laundry I just washed is covered in mud again,” Samar said.
A Ceasefire Brings No Comfort
Even the ceasefire has not eased their suffering. “They say the war is over. Where is it over? ” Samar asked. “Every day there is bombing, every day there are martyrs, and every day we drown and suffer. This is the beginning of a new war, not the end.”
Above all, the couple seeks dignity and shelter. “Even caravans are not a real solution; they’re temporary. We are human beings. We had homes. We demand to rebuild our homes,” Samar said.
They appeal to humanitarian organizations for immediate aid: clothes, mattresses, blankets, and proper shelter. Abdulrahman summed up their despair: “Honestly… we’ve become bodies without souls.”
Shortlink for this post: https://daysofpalestine.ps/?p=69996
