More than 1.9 million Palestinians in Gaza, about 90% of the population, have been driven from their homes as a result of Israeli military attacks and evacuation orders since October 2023.

Just last month, 400,000 people sheltering in the southern city of Khan Younis were forced to evacuate the area and search for safety. But there is no safe place in Gaza. The Israeli military has previously designated areas in Gaza as so-called ‘safe zones’, and then repeatedly bombed these areas.

After fleeing for their lives, displaced people across Gaza often end up sheltering in tents and uninhabitable buildings that do not protect them from the bitter cold or extreme heat – both of which have impacted Palestinians over 10 months of war.

We spoke to Amany, a mother of three, about her experience of being displaced several times, and what it means to be displaced in Gaza right now.

What happened to you and your family?

On 13 October 2023, the Israeli military ordered civilians in northern Gaza to evacuate to the south. My husband, Ahmad, was a paramedic working there to help the injured. But he was killed in an airstrike attack on a building close to where he was working. My husband was the kindest and most generous person I knew. But I had little time to grieve for him. I had three children (Mohammed, 12, Essam, 11, and Waleed, 7) to take care of.

After the evacuation order, I fled from my home in Al-Naser, Gaza City, to my father’s house in al-Shati refugee camp. I was then forced to evacuate again, under fire, to Rafah [in the south] and later to Deir al-Balah [in the Middle Area], after the Israeli military’s ground invasion of Rafah.

Ten months ago, I was a housewife, happy to nurture my growing family with my husband. But now I am a widow raising my children and focusing on daily necessities: food, water, and the safety of my children. It is a huge responsibility on my shoulders.

Where are you living now and what are the conditions like?

I live in a makeshift tent with my three children, Mohammed, 12, Essam, 11, and Waleed, 7, along with my mother-in-law. Imagine a whole house in a tent! My family and I go about our daily activities within this narrow space, and the lucky ones can divide their tent into several sections using an inner partition or a piece of cloth. These tents serve as a kitchen, a bedroom, a dining room, and space for my children to play, all at the same time.

I rely on limited water, such as water trucks or nearby communal water points, to collect water in containers. The water is then brought back to the tent, where I wash utensils in a bucket. I often reuse water as much as possible due to the scarcity.

Detergent is unavailable so I use some soap, and utensils are air-dried. The process is time-consuming and requires careful water management to ensure some hygiene despite the difficult conditions. Being displaced means you cook on fire which is a very tiring process: lighting it, cooking on it, and all the gasses coming from the fire. It’s really tiring.

What does it mean to be displaced in Gaza?

Being displaced means there is no water. You can’t wash your hands or clothes. You don’t have clean water to drink and might have to drink dirty water, which can make you sick or even kill you.

Being displaced means you must wait in long lines to use the bathroom. When it’s finally your turn, people will be knocking on the door for you to hurry up, and there is no water in the bathroom. Being displaced means taking a shower is a dream that is difficult to achieve. Taking a bath is an impossible luxury.

Being displaced means you don't have a mattress or pillow. You sleep on the floor with a musty sheet that you can’t wash. Your pillow is the only bag of clothes you managed to take with you when you fled your home. You have back and leg pain from sleeping in uncomfortable positions, stomach aches, and a headache from the stress.

Being displaced means you look up to the sky 10 times every minute, imagining that a new massacre will happen to you, and the latest breaking news will be about you and your family. Being displaced means you always hear the bombing around you, and you see it, but you never know where it’s coming from. 

What support have you received from MAP?

I have received water gallon jugs which are easy to fill. I now worry less frequently about water as I have better hygiene and health for my family. I have also been provided with mattresses, making sleeping conditions better for me and my children, as well as other relief items to improve the living conditions inside the tent.

The team have also given me hygiene kits, winter packages, dignity kits, and shelter items. These items have not only improved my physical living conditions but have also provided me with a renewed sense of hope and dignity.

How are you coping amid the daily horrors you’re faced with?

I try my best to keep my family alive and united amid the massive bombardments all around us. In addition to searching for shelter, water, food, and wood for cooking, I’m taking care of my children and my elderly mother-in-law. It’s a daily test for me but also daily resilience.

Despite living in a tent, my kids and I feel safe because we know we are not alone, and the assistance we have received gives us hope. This makes our life better and helps us to face the challenges we have.

MAP, in partnership with ShelterBox and through our community partner the Social Developmental Forum, has been distributing shelter items in the south of Gaza, including tarpaulins, mattresses, blankets, and water gallon jugs.

With your support, we can continue contributing to improving the living conditions of displaced people like Amany and her family.