Ameera, a 49-year-old woman living with the effects of polio, is the mother of three children. Her husband has been missing for the past four years, leaving her to care for the family on her own.
Since October 7, 2023, Ameera and her children have been displaced more than five times across the southern Gaza Strip.
Risk everything for a drop of water
She remembers the constant chaos, moving from one place to another with no stable shelter, no income, and relying entirely on her extended family’s support to survive.
One of the hardest parts, she said, was trying to find clean drinking water for her children. With no other option, she sent her 14-year-old son to walk 400–500 meters every day to collect just seven liters of water, sometimes less, risking his life each time due to nearby random Israeli airstrikes.
Holding back tears, Ameera shared how the repeated strain caused her eldest son to develop a hernia. The water they managed to get was often dirty, leading to serious health issues: her 10-year-old son developed jaundice, and all three children suffered from skin rashes, stomach infections, and diarrhea.
A moment of relief
Recently, through DCA/NCA, water trucks began reaching the shelter where they are currently staying. For the first time in months, Ameera says she doesn’t have to worry about her son’s safety while sending him out for water.
“It’s one less thing to worry about.”
But the challenges are far from over as displacement, hunger, and the lack of medical care still affect every part of their daily life.
About this project
Title: Life-saving WASH, EMPCA and EORE response to crisis affected people in Gaza.
Period: November 2024 – October 2025
Amount: 1,000,000 EUR
Expected number of people reached: 17,458
Donor: Cordaid
