Palestinian refugees are surviving in overcrowded tent settlements in the Gaza Strip that lack basic services and face threats from illness and vermin [1].
These conditions highlight the humanitarian crisis facing civilians who have lost their homes to the bombing campaign that began Oct. 7, 2023 [1, 2]. The lack of infrastructure in these makeshift camps creates a cycle of desperation and disease for thousands of displaced persons.
In the Remal area of central Gaza City, many families have pitched tents beside a large rubbish dump [2]. The settlements are plagued by rats, rain, and extreme cold, leaving residents vulnerable to chronic illness [1, 2].
Magdy Abu Asr, 15, described the environment as a tragedy while showing the tent where he lives with his sisters and family [1]. "I'm going to show you our tent, where I live with my family and my sisters… As you can see, our lives are a real tragedy," Abu Asr said [1].
For some families, the instability has been constant. One member of the Abu Amr family said they have been displaced more than 17 times [2] since the conflict began. The family's experience reflects a broader pattern of repeated movement as residents flee active combat zones.
Reports indicate that Israel’s daily bombing of the region slowed after a cease-fire was implemented in October 2023 [1]. Despite the reduction in immediate bombardment, the destruction of residential infrastructure has left families with no choice but to remain in these precarious settlements [1, 2].
The psychological toll of the displacement is compounded by personal loss. Wael al-Dahdouh, a journalist who faced immense tragedy during the conflict, said, "I couldn't cry over my children like everyone else" [3].
“"Our lives are a real tragedy."”
The persistence of tent cities beside waste sites indicates a total collapse of urban infrastructure and a lack of viable temporary housing. The repeated displacement of families—some moving more than 17 times—suggests that 'safe zones' are often temporary or non-existent, leading to long-term public health risks and systemic instability for the civilian population.
