Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians displaced within Gaza live in tents among destroyed homes and infrastructure due to ongoing conflict. These tents often offer inadequate shelter as families struggle with rodent infestations, making daily life difficult. Umm Ahmad, a displaced resident, described her tent as so cramped that she feels "in prison," noting that food must be hung to keep it away from rodents living among them.
Water scarcity is a severe challenge; families rely on stored water in plastic containers that do not meet daily needs. About three out of four families depend on truck deliveries for water, currently supplying around 24,000 cubic meters daily through 2,000 distribution points. These deliveries depend on generators and equipment that are vulnerable to breakdown without vital maintenance supplies.
Umm Ahmad remembered her previous life in a spacious, well-equipped five-storey home destroyed by war. This is her family’s fourth displacement, and they have been living under harsh conditions for three years with no clear prospect of return. Humanitarian organizations stress the urgent need for essential supplies to be allowed into Gaza to prevent further deterioration of living conditions and the collapse of vital infrastructure.