In Gaza City, displacement for thousands of Palestinians no longer means just losing their homes and fleeing bombardment. It has become a harsh daily reality within dilapidated tents surrounded by sewage, piles of garbage, and rubble, amidst a widespread collapse of infrastructure and basic services resulting from the war of annihilation on the Gaza Strip.
Near damaged buildings in the city, displaced families are living in hastily erected tents, some just meters away from pools of wastewater and makeshift garbage dumps. As temperatures rise, foul odors, insects, and rodents proliferate, and displaced people report outbreaks of skin, respiratory, and intestinal diseases among children and the elderly, amidst a near-total absence of sanitation and hygiene services.
Displaced families say that the place they sought refuge in has become a constant source of danger, with contaminated water seeping into the tents and garbage accumulating in the corridors, while sanitation facilities and clean water are scarce. They emphasize that severe overcrowding and high transportation costs make relocating to an alternative location virtually impossible.
