Messages from a young mother in Gaza

Image sent by Nadia

A young mother in Gaza who wrote for ICN earlier this year, has been sending us harrowing messages over the last three days describing conditions there.

In February, Nadia, who lives in a refugee camp, wrote about how her husband had been killed two years earlier when their house was bombed in a previous onslaught by Israel. She survived with her two children and moved into her mother's small house. They only had electricity for about four hours a day and an irregular water supply. They were getting rations of flour, milk and sugar from UNRWA once every three months, but relying on support from friends for other food. Nadia said their house was cold and unheated.

"Every few months a new war takes place in Gaza, and children are exposed to fear and psychological trauma due to explosions from Israeli planes," she said.

Since Hamas launched their deadly raid on Israel, Gaza came under heavy attack from air and sea and Nadia began sending brief messages to me.

On 7 October 4.51pm (London time) she wrote: "I feel very afraid my children and I will die. The children are crying."

8 October: 8.35am "I'm really not OK. I stay home. There is no safe place in Gaza. Tonight was harsh and violent. Israel is destroying homes and buildings on top of the population."

"My mother and children are afraid. I don't know what to do for them."

Other reporters describe that the sound of the continuous bombing and explosions was so was so loud, it was impossible to sleep and people's ears were hurting.

Nadia wrote: "I'm trying to keep calm with my mother. I give her sedatives so she is not afraid. The house is shaking with explosions."

9 October 5.40pm: "The mosque next door was bombed. Our house windows and doors were severely damaged. We suffered minor injuries and wounds. I was to reassure you that I am still alive. But I am not well.

"We went to the UNWRA school (shelter) but there were no empty rooms. All the schools are full of civilians."

"Many people are injured by window glass. Many neighbours, women and children have died.

"We are now at our neighbours house."

"There is no quiet time. Only explosions and intense bombing"

8.04 10 October: "I am still alive but I am not well. I feel very tired and afraid. The planes do not stop bombing houses."

"Israel has cut off electricity and water, Internet is very weak."

"Last night was one of the most difficult nights of my life. I did not expect to wake up alive. The family is fine they are afraid."

11.08. "I may not be alive. Israel bombed the Rafah Crossing which is the only way out of Gaza so we cannot go anywhere. The children are afraid and cry all the time. I am really tired. I am tired."

LINKS

ICN 2 February 2023 - Eyewitness: Widow writes from Gaza: www.indcatholicnews.com/news/46454

Medical Aid for Palestinians: www.map.org.uk/