In the Yabalia refugee camp, north of the Gaza Strip, Mohammed Hameed holds his mobile phone displaying heartbreaking images of his four-year-old son Aseel. In one snapshot, he is seen happily playing at an amusement park; in the next, he is in a coma in a hospital bed, where he fought for two weeks before recently passing away. Aseel’s death is a tragic testimony to the suffering of children in a war-torn region. The child suffered a fall from the second floor while playing on the roof of his home, an accident that reflects the grim reality of children in Gaza surrounded by debris and ruins.
War not only takes lives, but also destroys the safe spaces where children could play. The devastation of homes has led many to die from collapses or falling debris while trying to enjoy their childhood. Mohammed Thaher, another father in Yabalia, laments the lack of safe places. Sitting on piles of rubble, he describes his concern: “There’s nowhere to play. All the spaces are covered in debris and we fear rocks falling on us. Even the hospitals are not functioning properly.”
Ibrahim Abu Aida, a father struggling to rebuild what was once his home, describes the terror they experienced during the last bombing. “The house was trembling and rocks were falling. We were heading to prayer and got trapped. We don’t know how to walk on the streets, they are closed off by debris,” he recounts distressingly. The situation is critical, his family has barely managed to create a narrow passage under a collapsed roof that allows them to go out and search for food and water, risking their lives every day.
The data is alarming: in just one year, the war in Gaza has generated over 51 million tons of debris. According to a report from the UN, the World Bank, and the European Union, more than 60% of homes have been destroyed in the Gaza Strip, equivalent to around 292,000 homes, as well as 65% of roads in an area of just 360 square kilometers. This devastating landscape not only takes lives, but also deprives the new generations of a hopeful future.
The cries of those who have lost loved ones add to the silent plea of the children of Gaza. A better future, where they can play safely and live their childhood like any child in the world, is urgently demanded by the international community. The situation of children in Gaza requires immediate attention and effective action to ensure their well-being and their right to a dignified life.
Source: MiMub in Spanish