In Gaza City, Reda Aliwa prepares a meal for her 36 grandchildren inside their tent. The children eagerly gather around her, clamoring for food, which is all they will have for the night. Despite their limited food supply, some of the kids sneak extra spoonfuls of rice when Aliwa is not looking. She manages to provide them with water from a container filled with rainwater, passing a metal cup down the line for each child to take a sip.
Aliwa, who lost her five children in two attacks in September while they were at a camp in Gaza City, now shoulders the responsibility of caring for her grandchildren alongside her husband. They face the challenge of rebuilding their lives in the aftermath of the tragic events during a fragile ceasefire period. Among the approximately 40,000 children in Gaza who have lost one or both parents, as reported by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) in April, Aliwa’s grandchildren are a part of this significant orphan crisis.
Despite receiving some aid from non-governmental organizations (NGOs), Aliwa struggles to secure enough food for her family. The unreliable food distributions leave them uncertain about their next meal, with Aliwa expressing the difficulty of finding adequate sustenance on a regular basis. The high prices in the region make it challenging for financial assistance to stretch far enough to cover their basic needs.
The trauma and grief from the loss of their parents have disrupted the children’s education, as schools and universities were damaged in the conflict. Aliwa’s granddaughter, Ibtissam Aliwa, emotionally recalls the stark contrast in their lives before and after the tragic events. While NGOs have established temporary learning centers with psychosocial support, significant challenges remain in addressing the mental health needs of Palestinian children in Gaza.
Living in a tent surrounded by rubble in Gaza City, the family copes with the harsh conditions, including a lack of proper shelter and ongoing conflict nearby. Aliwa’s concern for the future weighs heavily on her mind as she contemplates what will happen to her grandchildren if anything happens to her. She shields her pain from the children, choosing to grieve in private to protect them from the extent of her sorrow.
As they gather near a fire after dinner, Aliwa’s grandchildren engage in daily activities while their grandmother contemplates their uncertain future. With worries about food security and the children’s well-being, Aliwa faces the immense challenge of providing stability and care for her large family in the midst of ongoing hardships in Gaza.