Gaza’s Tent Life Between Illness and Daily Despair

How residents navigate survival in makeshift shelters amid ongoing hardship
In Gaza, thousands of families continue to live in makeshift tents, facing harsh conditions that affect every aspect of daily life. These tents, often assembled from plastic sheets, tarpaulins, and salvaged materials, serve as temporary shelters for those displaced by conflict, natural disasters, or economic hardship.
For many, illness, hunger, and despair have become daily companions. While international aid organizations attempt to provide support, the scale of need often far exceeds the resources available, leaving residents to struggle with basic necessities such as clean water, healthcare, and sanitation.
Life Inside the Tents
Living conditions in Gaza’s tent communities are extremely challenging. Families often face:
Overcrowding: Multiple generations share a single small tent
Poor sanitation: Limited access to toilets and clean water increases the risk of disease
Exposure to weather: Extreme heat in summer and cold in winter make tents almost unlivable at times
Residents describe waking up to damp, cold floors in winter and unbearable heat in summer. The tents offer little protection against environmental hazards, and structural instability is a constant concern.
Illness and Health Challenges
Health conditions are a major concern in Gaza’s tent life. The combination of overcrowding, limited medical facilities, and poor sanitation contributes to the spread of diseases such as:
Respiratory infections
Waterborne illnesses
Skin infections
Children and the elderly are particularly vulnerable. Malnutrition is widespread, as limited access to nutritious food weakens immune systems and exacerbates health problems. Families often have to travel long distances to reach medical facilities, with some unable to afford care altogether.
Daily Struggle for Basic Necessities
Survival in the tents requires constant effort and adaptation. Daily routines often revolve around:
Collecting safe drinking water from limited sources
Cooking with scarce fuel or firewood
Maintaining hygiene with inadequate washing facilities
These small tasks, which most people take for granted, become major challenges for residents. Women, in particular, carry the burden of caring for children, preparing food, and ensuring family safety under difficult circumstances.
Psychological Toll
Living in constant uncertainty has a profound psychological impact. Residents report:
Anxiety over the safety and stability of their shelters
Stress from lack of employment and income opportunities
Despair over repeated cycles of displacement and loss
Mental health support is scarce. Many residents rely on community networks and informal support systems to cope with trauma, grief, and fear. Children, growing up amid hardship, face interruptions in education and limited opportunities for play and development.
Humanitarian Response
Aid organizations and international agencies continue to provide support, including:
Food packages and clean water
Temporary shelters and tents
Medical supplies and vaccination programs
Despite these efforts, the gap between need and resources remains large. Political instability, border restrictions, and funding shortages often slow or limit aid delivery, leaving many residents dependent on temporary measures for survival.
Stories of Resilience
Amid the despair, stories of resilience and community support emerge. Residents organize:
Shared cooking and water collection
Makeshift schools and community programs for children
Small-scale income generation, such as handicrafts or local markets
These acts of solidarity help maintain a sense of hope and dignity, demonstrating the human capacity to adapt and survive in even the harshest circumstances.
The Path Forward
Experts argue that long-term solutions require more than temporary shelters. Sustainable improvements could include:
Expanded healthcare services and mobile clinics
Access to clean water, sanitation, and electricity
Economic opportunities to reduce dependency on aid
Permanent housing solutions to replace tents
International cooperation, political stability, and investment in infrastructure are crucial to addressing the underlying causes of displacement and improving living conditions for Gaza’s residents.
Conclusion
Life in Gaza’s tents is marked by illness, despair, and daily struggle, yet residents continue to show remarkable resilience. The humanitarian crisis underscores the urgent need for sustainable solutions, adequate medical care, and long-term housing support.
While tents provide temporary shelter, they cannot replace the security, dignity, and stability that every person deserves. For the thousands living in Gaza today, hope often lies in the commitment of communities, aid organizations, and the international community to act before despair becomes permanent.