A voice from Gaza : Eslam
Hello everyone, Here’s the Eslam testimony … be strong !
You can get to know him through his social media accounts :
@eslam94@mastodon.social
My story in brief
My name is Islam, I’m 32 years old, from Gaza. I’ve been displaced from Rafah 8 times and I’m currently in Deir al-Balah. I was the director of the largest educational institution before the war. It was destroyed, and my house was destroyed.
I lost my job, became depressed, and now I’m unemployed. I was displaced in Mawasi Rafah with my mother, my two young nieces, Menna and Dalou, and their brother Ahmed, who suffers from a rare disease called elephantiasis.
However, because my mother is blind, we had to leave them and rent a house in Deir al-Balah. My mother needs medication weekly; we used to get it for free, but now the occupation prevents the entry of medications.
I need to tell you about my needs if you’d like to add them: rent, weekly medical treatment for my mother, and food and drink for my two daughters. Their situation is extremely difficult, and I don’t have gas, electricity, or a washing machine.
I created a FoundMe link and connected my family with my brother’s family, who lives in Mawasi Khan Yunis, because his internet was down.
I used to live with my family—all of us were children—but since my mother is blind, we rented a house and moved. I share my suffering with them.
Life in Rafah
How would you describe life in Gaza before you were forced to leave, for people who have never been there? It was a rather beautiful, quiet life.
How old were your children when you had to leave? Did they realize what was happening around them? Yes, they were aware, they were frightened and panicked. Their ages were 11, 9, 7, and 6.
What is your educational and professional background? I was an Arabic language teacher and I had a large educational institution.
What was the school your children attended like? UNRWA ? They were studying in UNRWA schools
What were their favorite subjects in school ? They were studying Arabic, mathematics, English, and science.
Do you still have any family, besides your children and your husband ? Are you still in touch with them ? Currently, I’m not in contact with anyone; I have enough worries of my own.
The turning point
When did you realize you had to leave? What was the trigger? Je suis partie quand la maison de nos voisins a été bombardée et qu’ils ont tous été tués, pour que les survivants puissent s’échapper. La scène était horrible.
How did your departure from Rafah unfold? What were you able to take with you? I left Rafah for Khan Yunis on foot without taking anything with me, and they only gave us seconds.
Did you receive any help at this instant ? I didn’t receive any kind of assistance… because we moved from Al-Mawasi to a rented house in Deir al-Balah, which is just a chicken coop. I can only pay the rent by scaling it up, but I have no choice because my mother is blind and suffers from chronic illnesses. She used to receive free treatment, but now it has been cut off from medical points.
The concrete present
How is the camp organized today? What exactly are you living in? We live in a rented house, but it used to be a chicken coop before we moved in. We rented it out of necessity. My brother’s family lives in a tent. Living expenses are very high for both families. My brother has four children, and my mother needs daily medication that we used to get for free, but now we have to buy because the checkpoints are closed and entry is prohibited.
How many dollar week ? Only donations via chuffed.org/project/1…
What are the prices for basic necessities and hygiene products, as well as food? I’m not exactly sure, but they range in price from $5 to $20 each.
Do your children have internet access for their studies? They don’t even have cell phones. They attend UNRWA’s free schools.
Is there mutual aid in the camp, and how is it organized? I don’t receive any kind of financial support. I currently rely solely on donations from this link.
How are your daily lives organized in the camp? We wake up to the smoke from the nylon stoves we use for cooking, and sometimes we have to pick up trash, then fill containers with water outside, and then wash dishes by hand all day long.
Conclusion
If you could speak to everyone, what would you say to them? I am someone who senses and feels the collapse, who is suffering inside, and this is now taking a toll on my health. I am not just a number.