RAFAH, (PIC)
Rafah, the city that has long symbolized resilience and beauty, has now become a different face of war and devastation.
Israeli bombings have turned its once-thriving neighborhoods into piles of rubble, leaving its streets empty, filled only with the memories of those who once lived there.
With every scene of destruction, the anguished residents ask: How could a city once full of life be reduced to this ruin? Do the clouds carry the stories and memories of those who lost everything?
A stricken city without the essentials of life
The situation in Rafah surpasses every description. The city, which once embraced thousands of families, has become uninhabitable.
All the necessities of life have been completely destroyed—from water and electricity networks to basic infrastructure.
The scene on the ground depicts a humanitarian catastrophe. Surviving families are now displaced, homeless, and seeking security and stability amidst a sea of destruction.
Rafah’s mayor, Ahmed Al-Sufi, officially declared the city a disaster zone, stressing that the scale of the damage exceeds the capacity of any local authority to handle. The city no longer has even the most basic services, while its residents suffer from severe shortages of water, food, and shelter.
Stories beneath the rubble
In the neighborhoods that once buzzed with life, the scenes now tell stories too heavy for words.
In a place that was once the home of a large family, survivors stand amidst the rubble, searching for traces of memories buried beneath the stones.
Umm Mohammed Abu Shaeera, one of the survivors, lost her home in the Tel Al-Sultan neighborhood and now lives with her five children, homeless. The fear etched in her children’s eyes is as painful as losing everything she owned.
Haj Ibrahim Al-Dabash, a long-time resident of the city, described the scene as though it were the end of the world. The buildings that were once landmarks of the city no longer exist, and the streets that used to echo with laughter have been replaced by heavy silence, carrying the scent of destruction and death.
Urgent calls to save what can be saved
The crisis in Rafah calls for an immediate international response. The needs of its residents surpass every imagination—from shelter and food to access to clean water and basic medical services.
The municipality has appealed to international organizations to act swiftly and launch a comprehensive emergency plan to rebuild the city and heal the deep wounds left by the war.
Resilience amid destruction
Despite everything that has happened, the people of Rafah remain hopeful. According to our correspondent, the city’s youth are working tirelessly to clear debris and assist those affected, in an effort to restore even a small portion of life to their city.
Amidst all this darkness, there is a shared belief that Rafah will rise again, as it always has throughout its long history.
Rafah today is not just a city destroyed but a story of a people who resist death with life. Every shattered stone and every ruined street tells a story of pain, yet it also carries a message of resilience. Rafah will return, as it always has, to being a cradle of hope and life, despite all attempts to erase its existence.
