There is no blessing or goodness in Gaza this winter Opinions

Winter was a popular season in Gaza. It was believed to bring “khair” and “barakah” – goodness and blessings. Children and adults alike look forward to the cold season to relieve the summer heat.

When the rain finally falls, the children rush into the streets, singing joyfully, “Shatti, oh Dunya, Shatti, and water all the water, so that the farmer can plant peaches, pomegranates, and apples” – “Rain, Dunya, rain and water.” All the land, so that the farmer can grow peaches, pomegranates and apples.

For Gaza, which suffers from water shortages, the rains have been a blessing indeed. Farmers will welcome them and begin preparing for the new crop season. The markets will be full of locally grown vegetables such as spinach, lettuce, carrots and cucumbers and fruits such as oranges, kiwi, persimmons and strawberries.

For city dwellers, rainy days will be a time to relax at home, curling up under warm blankets or gathering around the fire to make tea or sip “sahlab” – a sweet drink made from milk, starch, coconut and nuts.

On some nights when electricity was restored, families would sit in front of the television to watch a movie or TV series.

On cold, dry days, many would venture out to the seaside, to enjoy a picnic or meet friends. The smell of sweet roasted corn and chestnuts fills the air. Many also stop by the famous Abu Al-Saud sweet shop for a warm kunafa – either the Arabic kind stuffed with nuts or the Nabulsi one filled with cheese.

Winters in Gaza now seem like a thing of the distant past. Abu Al-Saud’s shop no longer exists. No comfortable gatherings and sweet conversations, no sahlab, and no television. There are no children outside singing “Shatti ya Dunya Shatti” when it rains.

Winter this year did not bring goodness and blessings. It brought more suffering and utter despair.

The rain has been a curse. People are praying for dry weather, fearing what floodwaters could do to camps for displaced people.

The thunder now sounds like bombs – terrifying. Many Palestinians have nowhere to shelter from the storm. Aid groups say at least a million people have no basic protection from the winter weather.

Temporary shelters are made from textiles, tarpaulins, blankets, cardboard and even old rice bags. They can hardly withstand the wind and rain. At night, families are forced to stay awake, clinging tightly to their tents so they do not fly away, while water seeps under them, soaking their mattresses, blankets and other belongings.

Often, the shelters are so flimsy that the rain destroys them, leaving families desperate who have already lost everything. The prices of tents and materials to build temporary tents have skyrocketed, leaving those whose homes have been destroyed or washed away exposed to the elements.

Some became so desperate that they returned to their bombed homes to take shelter. Even if the building is so badly damaged that it could collapse at any moment, people remain there, having no other choice.

Staying warm is almost impossible too. Wood has become affordable for many; 1 kg now costs $9. Those who cannot afford it have to start searching for it themselves – an exhausting and exhausting task. Even if there is enough wood to start a fire, it is not enough to warm the family through the freezing night.

What makes the cold of winter more difficult is hunger. Since October, food prices in Gaza have risen significantly. A bag of flour costs up to $200. Meat and fish completely disappeared from the markets; Vegetables and fruits are rare and at high prices.

Bakeries closed their doors due to lack of baking supplies. UNRWA and the World Food Programme, which usually provide assistance to the most vulnerable groups, cannot cope with the demand. Soup kitchens distribute meals of chickpeas, lentils and rice, but each family gets only one plate, barely enough for one person.

At night, in every camp for displaced people, the cries of hungry children can be heard as they beg their parents to give them food.

Memories of the warmth and joy that once filled homes during the winter in Gaza have faded. Despair and misery reign in the cold. It seems that the suffering of the Palestinian people has no end. Many live in the faint hope that the war and genocide will end, that food will once again be available, and that people will have adequate shelter. That goodness and blessing will return to Gaza one day.

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of Al Jazeera.