I am Lamar, a young girl from Gaza, who has witnessed the brutality of war. On October 7th, I woke up to the sounds of explosions that transformed my life from joy to sorrow. This day was supposed to be the beginning of our school year, but instead, it turned into the start of a nightmare. The sounds of bells turned into screams and rockets, and we were forced to leave everything we loved: my school, my books, my cat, and my most beautiful memories.
We walked on foot with my family from Gaza to Rafah, surrounded by chaos and fear. We sought refuge in school shelters, but the situation kept getting worse. Five hundred families crowded into one place, lacking basic needs. There were no clean toilets, no healthcare, which led to me contracting several diseases, including hepatitis and eczema. Our life in inhumane conditions affected my health and psyche.
My condition deteriorated, and I lost a lot of weight. The memories of my school, my books, and my toys kept recurring in my mind, but they became more like painful dreams. Then came the shocking news: our warm home was destroyed and turned into rubble. We were also told that we had to move again, marking a new phase of displacement.
In Mawasi Khan Younis, we lived in a tent by the sea. My family went through repeated displacements, and with each move, life became harder. I walked long distances with my brother Shams to search for water, and he would bring salty water from the sea, which negatively impacted his health.
Facing hunger and disease was our greatest challenge. With the arrival of winter, our suffering increased. We searched for warm clothes and food that was no longer available. Prices were skyrocketing, and I felt like I was living a thousand deaths in one day.
Despite all of this, we had to confront every new challenge. We waited patiently for any aid that might come, and despite my shattered hopes, I believed that someone would come to our rescue. I will remain steadfast and continue to face this nightmare.
I make this plea: please, extend a helping hand to us so we can live with dignity. We need everything that can help us continue our lives anew and restore our beautiful dreams.
We walked on foot with my family from Gaza to Rafah, surrounded by chaos and fear. We sought refuge in school shelters, but the situation kept getting worse. Five hundred families crowded into one place, lacking basic needs. There were no clean toilets, no healthcare, which led to me contracting several diseases, including hepatitis and eczema. Our life in inhumane conditions affected my health and psyche.
My condition deteriorated, and I lost a lot of weight. The memories of my school, my books, and my toys kept recurring in my mind, but they became more like painful dreams. Then came the shocking news: our warm home was destroyed and turned into rubble. We were also told that we had to move again, marking a new phase of displacement.
In Mawasi Khan Younis, we lived in a tent by the sea. My family went through repeated displacements, and with each move, life became harder. I walked long distances with my brother Shams to search for water, and he would bring salty water from the sea, which negatively impacted his health.
Facing hunger and disease was our greatest challenge. With the arrival of winter, our suffering increased. We searched for warm clothes and food that was no longer available. Prices were skyrocketing, and I felt like I was living a thousand deaths in one day.
Despite all of this, we had to confront every new challenge. We waited patiently for any aid that might come, and despite my shattered hopes, I believed that someone would come to our rescue. I will remain steadfast and continue to face this nightmare.
I make this plea: please, extend a helping hand to us so we can live with dignity. We need everything that can help us continue our lives anew and restore our beautiful dreams.
Organizer
