Gaza mother with 4 disabled children pleads for ceasefire
- Family fled with only small bags, broken wheelchairs amid ongoing attacks
By Husnu Nedim
GAZA CITY, Palestine (AA) – Abir Warsh Agha, a mother of four children with disabilities, now residing at Yarmouk Stadium in central Gaza, voiced her desperate hope for an end to the violence as a ceasefire is set to take effect early on Sunday.
Agha yearns for safety and dignity after enduring repeated displacement due to Israeli airstrikes. She fled her home in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza, following intensified bombardments on Oct. 5, 2024 and describes the harrowing journey of transporting her children, all reliant on wheelchairs, across war-torn roads.
“We left everything behind and set out with small bags,” she recalled with emotion.
The family’s ordeal was compounded by damaged wheelchairs and injuries sustained during the trek.
“The wheelchairs were damaged by obstacles on the road. Our shoes tore apart, and our feet bled,” she said, her voice trembling.
Agha’s children, all born with cerebral palsy, require constant care. She detailed the immense challenges in securing basic needs like food, clothing, and medicine.
She expressed her anguish over her inability to repair the wheelchairs or provide adequate shelter.
“We are living a tragedy,” she said. “Cold and rainy nights have left us soaked, with water ruining all our belongings. I had to seek help from neighbors to save my daughters.”
- Dire conditions in displacement camps
The Palestinian government media office in Gaza reported that 81% of tents in displacement camps are damaged, with 110,000 out of 135,000 tents rendered unusable.
Heavy rains have further worsened the crisis, prompting hundreds of aid requests to the Civil Defense Directorate from displaced families whose homes and tents were flooded.
While civil defense teams work to evacuate affected residents, the scarcity of suitable shelter remains a critical issue.
Despite her hardships, Agha continues to hope the Israeli attacks will end, praying for an opportunity to rebuild her life and provide her children with the care they need.
Qatar announced a three-phase ceasefire agreement on Wednesday, aiming to end more than 15 months of deadly Israeli strikes on Gaza. The truce is set to take effect on Sunday.
Since Oct. 7, 2023, Israeli attacks on Gaza have killed nearly 46,900 Palestinians, predominantly women and children, and injured over 110,600, according to local health officials.
In November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Additionally, Israel is facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice over its actions in the enclave.
* Writing by Merve Berker