Paula Forcado, 10th Grade

The massive destruction and suffering that wreaked upon the Gaza Strip from late December 2008 to mid-January 2009 was not the result of an earthquake, the breaking of a dam, or a sudden flood. The causes were bullets, bombs, and rockets launched by soldiers in uniform. But this catastrophe wasn’t the result of a single incident; rather, it was the result of years of political unrest, corruption, and an increasingly harsh blockade. How did we get to this point of massive destruction and corruption, and what is the political and strategic significance and influence of this humanitarian tragedy, created by war but also long nurtured by an increasingly draconian blockade? 

As Okojie K ‘23 states, economists explain, “On October 7th Hamas, the militant group that runs the Gaza Strip, attacked Israel, killing 1,300 people and taking dozens of hostages”. Israel responded with force to Palestinians by October 12th, killing around 1,400 of them in Gaza. (Amnesty, 2023) Since 2007 they have suffered a stifling blockade and a series of wars. But, to uncover the roots of this current situation, we must go back to the days following the Oslo Accords and unravel the history behind Gaza that shaped this situation and its people. Despite this recognition, the accords itself marked the beginning of an Israeli policy aimed at isolating Gaza from both Israel and the West Bank. Palestine, once part of the Ottoman Empire, was seized by the British in 1917 during World War I. The Balfour Declaration that followed promised support for a Jewish homeland in Palestine. Tensions between Jewish and Arab residents escalated, leading to an Arab Revolt in 1936. The United Nations eventually voted to partition the land, creating the state of Israel in 1948. (UN, n.d.)

Since the beginning of the current escalation of hostilities in the Gaza Strip, the number of internally displaced people has reached 1.4 million, with over 550,000 seeking refuge in UNRWA schools serving as shelters in the central and southern areas of the Gaza Strip. The human cost of this conflict is nothing short of catastrophic. With a death toll of 10,022, including at least 4,104 children, 2,350 people, and 1,300 children were reported missing and potentially trapped under the rubble, making the scale of devastation even unimaginable. Shockingly, women and children account for 67 percent of the reported fatalities, highlighting the immense vulnerability of the civilian population. Equally distressing is the destruction of homes, which has left a staggering 262,000 housing units, or 43 percent of all housing units in the Gaza Strip, either destroyed or damaged since the start of the hostilities. The assault on education is also deeply concerning as over 51 percent of Gaza’s education facilities have been bombed, leaving 625,000 students without access to education. (Hovering R, 23) The children and their families are currently living in crowded and dire conditions with little or no access at all to basic supplies. (UNICEF, 2023) Some of this lack of access to basic supplies has been said to be water, food, and medicines, and the whole Gaza Strip is living with very little or no electricity. With no alternative, families are forced to sleep in corridors and classrooms, seeking refuge wherever possible, despite the lack of safety. 

Water scarcity is also a grave concern, with residents of the Gaza Strip having access to less than three liters of water per person per day, with only having access to less than three liters of water to drink, cook, and wash, which is far below the minimum energy threshold of 15 liters per person per day. (UNHCR, n.d.) This scarcity poses a significant health risk, particularly in a densely populated area like Gaza, where epidemics and diseases can also easily spread. By this, the situation poses a significant health risk of epidemics and diseases in a densely populated area like the Gaza Strip. Due to all of these factors mixed up together and dehydration and waterborne diseases becoming increasingly likely, there are already reports of cases of chickenpox, scabies, and diarrhea due to poor sanitation conditions and the consumption of unsafe water. The 2.2 million people living there, nearly half of whom are children, urgently require life-saving humanitarian aid and basic services to be able to survive. (RW, 2023) Their very existence hangs in the balance, as they struggle to cope with dire conditions and scarce resources. 

But that’s not the worst; it is the indescribable suffering endured by all these citizens in Gaza that is a heart-wrenching reality that cannot be ignored. In the midst of this dire situation, a poignant voice emerges – that of Aileen, a young girl yearning for the safety and comfort of her own home, sitting in front of Al-Shari School turned into a shelter. As her words resonate, shedding light on the overcrowded and arduous conditions faced by families day by day, trapped in a relentless cycle of limited resources. The only thing she can say and that they can all agree with is, “I do not like it here, it is crowded, I just want to go home”. Trapped in a relentless cycle of limited resources, parents are left grappling with the impossible task of providing for their children’s most basic needs. The scarcity of water, adequate clothing, and nourishing food has become an agonizing daily struggle, pushing these families to the brink of despair. This is the stark reality of life in Gaza, where the sense of devastation hangs heavy in the air. The once vibrant streets now bear witness to the scars of conflict, with buildings reduced to rubble and infrastructure in ruins. The constant fear with fear of violence looms over the population, overshadowing any semblance of normalcy. But how in the face of such adversity there is still resilience of people in Gaza is truly inspiring. They strive to build a semblance of normalcy and admit the chaos, seeking solace in the simplest joys of life. Children, despite their innocence being stolen far too soon, gather in makeshift classrooms, eager to learn and grow, determined to overcome the obstacles that surround them. Parents, with unwavering love, do their best to shield their children from the harsh realities, masking their pain and hardship. 

In the words of a resident at a shelter, “We do not have anything here, we suffer from insufficient water, clothes, and food, we are trying to cook anything for our children, the situation here is really bad and devastating.” For the children in Gaza, the delivery of aid is a matter of life or death. Families are persevering in the face of an uncertain future while seeing ways to support each other during these challenging times. This quote provides a deeper view into the emotional and practical hardships that residents are experiencing in the region as they struggle and express a sense of desperation and struggle for humanitarian aid, as they experience displacement, lack of access and movement, electricity, health care, water and sanitation limitation, low food security, hostilities, and casualties, violence, low protection services, and even more. 

Several institutions, including the UN and different non-governmental organizations (NGOs), are actively involved in giving aid and assistance to the people of Gaza. (Green M, 23) The United Nations has launched a $95 million emergency humanitarian appeal to offer basic services to this displaced population, such as food, water, shelter, and healthcare. Similarly, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) such as Oxfam and Save the Children are striving to provide aid and support to the impacted populations. 

Despite these efforts, agencies attempting to deliver help to the people of Gaza face enormous financial and resource challenges. The international community must do more to assist these efforts, including giving adequate financing and advocating for political solutions to the current situation. (NPR, 2023)

The international community must recognize the urgency of the situation. The suffering endured by the people of Gaza demands immediate attention and action. Humanitarian aid, essential services, and a genuine commitment to peace are not luxuries but NECESSITIES that can help alleviate the pain and restore hope for those who find themselves in their darkest and hardest points. The voices of the people of Gaza must be heard, their plight acknowledged, and their rights protected.

References:

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