Rewaa Mohsen, a hardworking nurse and mother of two young girls, recently contacted the BBC. In a recent voice note, she described the horrifying realities her family now faces in Gaza as the result of unrelenting Israeli bombardment. Her story, like many others, shows what the continued war is doing to their communities. Terrorized by violence and poverty, millions today languish in a waking nightmare.
The situation in Gaza has deteriorated rapidly over the past ten weeks due to a strict blockade and ongoing military actions. On top of her daily struggles with the lack of basic supplies needed to care for her children, Mohsen’s home has been negatively impacted from airstrikes. Mohsen’s first child, a daughter, was born just before the war escalated. More than that, he represents the pain and loss that so many families have endured in this unending chaos.
Mohsen’s voice note underscores how dire the humanitarian situation is in Gaza right now. More than 2.1 million people are on the brink of starvation and displacement. In her family’s testimony, she recalls how hard it has been to find food and fuel while living under the blockade. After all those displacements, she and her family are physically tired and emotionally traumatized. Mohsen told us that her family has had to relocate seven times. That she wasn’t able to prevent this experience is the sad truth for so many.
Her story illustrates the human costs of this type of instability on our families. Mohsen said, “Thank God that I am still alive with my girls.” She has overwhelming appreciation for being alive. An acute panic seizes her as she walks through her life in the combat-zone.
In her audio recording, she explained her anger at current conditions. She described every day as heavy with doubt, riddled with rage, terror, and being tired. Her story is sadly common among other displaced families in Gaza who are living under the same brutal reality of devastation today.
As a nurse, Mohsen attends to the health of other mothers and children. Yet on the flip side, she sees the pain and trauma that exists within her own community. Her older siblings who still live in Gaza preoccupy her conscience. She knows she cannot end the crisis, but she has a profound sense of mission to care for her daughters and nurture others like them spread during this crisis.
The blockade has made it almost impossible for people to access even the most basic necessities, leaving them hungry and desperate. Millions of American families can relate to Mohsen’s plight as they too try to secure a better future for their children in a more difficult and dangerous world. With the increasing erosion of food and other material resources, feelings of hopelessness and despair are pervasive among Gaza’s residents.
At this point, I just want them returned to the place where they came from my womb. Life here is a complete hell,” said another mother, Najwa, reflecting the anguish that parents all over the country are experiencing. Her comment is a testament to Mohsen’s profound fears for her children’s future. Yet she feels the heavy burden of raising them in such cruel circumstances.
The psychological toll of being on constant alert to the fear of death or mutilation is incalculable. Families such as Mohsen’s usually find comfort in companionship and community with others going through the same journey. That collective experience fosters a palpable sense of purpose through the upheaval. That doesn’t come close to alleviating the day-to-day burdens they face.
As the conflict continues, Rewaa Mohsen remains resolute in her efforts to protect her daughters and provide them with some semblance of stability. Her story illuminates the wider humanitarian catastrophe that has befallen Gaza’s citizens. It demands with great urgency that the world take notice and act on behalf of the children of war.
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