Even after the sounds of war faded, a different battle now defines daily life in Gaza’s Nuseirat refugee camp. Dozens of displaced Palestinians, most of them children, now stand in long lines with empty pots at charity kitchens, waiting for what may be their only meal of the day.
On Tuesday, the meal was a simple one: plain rice, ladled from a massive communal pot into the waiting containers of weary families.The heartbreaking sight reflects Gaza’s harsh reality, though the ceasefire has ended the bombings, a severe economic crisis continues to strangle the population.
“The rockets and planes have stopped, but rising living costs have become the hardest weapon used against us,” said Mohamed al-Naqlah, describing the struggle of countless families left jobless and desperate.
For many, like father of three Mohamed Jedely, the charity kitchens have become their only hope for survival.“There’s no other option right now,” he said, explaining that soaring food prices and scarce work have made it impossible for people to feed their families on their own.
The hardship is etched on the faces of children leaving the food lines, tired, hungry, and uncertain of what tomorrow will bring.
While limited humanitarian aid has entered Gaza since the ceasefire began last month, it remains far too little for the immense need. Entire communities now rely solely on the generosity of aid workers and donors just to make it through another day.
