In Gaza, families rebuild their lives among the rubble despite “incomprehensible destruction”

While his son was working to remove the rubble with a primitive pick between the sand and cement blocks from which protruded twisted iron rods that together once formed the walls of a house that embraced his family, Ayman Awadallah told a United Nations news correspondent in Gaza that despite returning to what was a home, “No water, no sanitation, no infrastructure. No life here, nothing at all.”.

Ayman – who was among those who returned to their homes after the ceasefire plan came into effect – climbed through the rubble of his house in the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood in Gaza City, searching for what remained of his belongings, and in an attempt to dislodge some of the rubble using his dust-covered hands.

While gasping for breath after descending from the rubble hill on a journey in which his feet almost slipped several times, he said with sadness in his voice: “The massive destruction everywhere here is beyond comprehension.”.

He continued, with confusion on his face: “In the face of all this, I don’t know what to do. I feel like we are in a nightmare. What should we do? We are confused.”.

Hope to live a decent life

Close to what used to be Ayman Awadallah’s house, our correspondent moved along Al-Jalaa Street in central Gaza, where hills of rubble lie on both sides of the road in what were once buildings full of life. Among the rubble, some buildings remained standing, despite the severe damage they sustained and the effects of war that appeared on their windows and walls.

Among the rubble and debris, human remains appeared mixed with cement blocks, destroyed cars, and belongings buried under the rubble, in addition to unexploded ordnance.

Amidst this scene and the destruction that loomed over the place, Muhammad Al-Saleh was able to retrieve some of his family’s belongings after they returned to their home, which had become a pile of rubble.

In order to restore even a glimmer of normal life, Muhammad Al-Saleh told our correspondent as he pointed to an area he had surrounded by some wooden poles and tarpaulins: “I am building a place to light a cooking fire. We do not have cooking gas or anything. But we thank God for everything.”. But he confirmed that they are “Tired” They travel long distances to obtain drinking water, and water for washing and bathing is not available. “Everything is non-existent”.

Muhammad Al-Saleh was wandering among the hills of rubble, then he stopped for a moment to say that it was what he wished for now “The reconstruction process must begin so that we can live a dignified life like other peoples of the world.”.

According to the urgent needs assessment conducted by the United Nations, the European Union, and the World Bank, the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip will require about 70 billion dollars.