GAZA, (PIC)
As you wander through the streets of Beit Lahiya in northern Gaza Strip, all you see is the rubble of homes and scenes of destruction that tell the story of a city that once pulsed with life. The sounds of birds that used to fill the mornings have fallen silent, replaced by cries and pleas for help. The town’s residents, who relied on the land and water for their livelihood, found themselves overnight without shelter or means of survival.
One resident, Haj Ibrahim Abu Awda (65 years old), sits in front of his destroyed home and says, “Everything is lost. Years of hard work to build a house for us, and today we are in the street. Our children ask where we will sleep, and we have no answer.”
In another corner, Um Mohammed, a mother of five, said, “Nothing is left for us. We can barely feed our children. No water, no electricity, no food. Even the hospitals have been destroyed… Where do we go?”
A portion of the town’s residents returned after the ceasefire, those who did not flee south, while others await next Saturday to return from the south as part of the agreement made.
Widespread destruction and human suffering
In statements made by the Mayor of Beit Lahiya, Dr. Alaa Al-Attar, he confirmed that the town has become a completely disaster-stricken area, with 95% of homes destroyed, rendering it uninhabitable. Dr. Al-Attar added that over 100,000 citizens have become homeless. “The destruction here is comprehensive; there is no house that hasn’t been damaged or reduced to rubble,” said Al-Attar.
Water and food crisis
Al-Attar explained that 80% of the water wells in the town have been completely destroyed, leading residents to suffer from a severe crisis in accessing clean drinking water. He also noted the lack of food security due to the destruction of agricultural land, which served as a lifeline for the residents.
Health sector collapse
The health situation in Beit Lahiya has become tragic, as Al-Attar confirmed the complete destruction of Kamal Adwan Hospital and the burning of the Indonesian Hospital, depriving thousands of necessary healthcare at a time of dire need. Additionally, 23 health sector vehicles were destroyed, making emergency response nearly impossible.
A cry for help to the world
With eyes full of sorrow, Dr. Al-Attar made an urgent appeal to the international community: “Beit Lahiya has become a disaster city, and the residents cannot face this catastrophe alone. We urgently need immediate intervention to rebuild homes, repair infrastructure, and secure food and water for displaced families.”
Today, Beit Lahiya stands witness to the scale of tragedy, where signs of life have vanished, replaced by expressions of sorrow and despair. Amidst the accumulated destruction and the weary faces of the people, the cry of a nation waiting for the world to extend a helping hand in its great ordeal becomes clear.