Gaza (HRNW) — Displaced families living in temporary shelters in Gaza are facing another humanitarian hardship as extreme heat makes life increasingly unbearable, forcing mothers to use whatever limited resources they have to protect their children from scorching temperatures and suffocating conditions.
Under the intense sun, temperatures inside makeshift tents can become unbearable, leaving infants and young children distressed. Mothers try to create shade around their shelters using pieces of wood, old sheets and other available materials. They also open the sides of tents to improve ventilation, but this often allows flies, insects and dust to enter.
Some mothers sprinkle water over the hot outer surfaces of their tents in an attempt to reduce the temperature inside. Water is already scarce and desperately needed for drinking, cooking and hygiene, yet families are forced to use some of their limited supply simply to provide children with temporary relief from the heat.
Other families use wooden supports to raise the outer layer of their tents, creating a narrow gap between the two layers so that air can circulate. However, these improvised measures provide only limited relief against extreme temperatures.
Mothers Struggling to Protect Their Children
Opening tents may improve ventilation, but it also exposes children to flies, insects and dust. One mother uses a plastic tray to fan her infant daughter, trying to provide her with even a few moments of relief.
For displaced women in Gaza, these efforts are not about comfort or convenience. They are a daily struggle to keep their children safe and create conditions in which they can breathe, rest and sleep.
From a human rights perspective, access to adequate shelter, clean water, healthcare and protection for children are fundamental humanitarian needs. Prolonged displacement and shortages of essential services have left families — particularly women and children — living in extremely vulnerable conditions.
For these mothers, the greatest wish is not luxury or comfort, but something far more basic: safe shade, clean water, cool air and a secure place where their children can survive.
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Disclaimer
Disclaimer: This report is based on available information and reports concerning conditions faced by displaced families in Gaza. HRNW does not claim independent verification of every detail. Readers are advised to consult credible humanitarian and international sources for further verification.
