Gaza children endure grueling daily water runs, sparking health crisis in Maghazi camp

Every sunrise, children in Gaza’s Maghazi displacement camp rise to collect water, a routine that has persisted for more than two years of conflict. Ten-year-old Maysara Zaqout and her brother Jawad wait for a water truck before heading to school, then rush back to fill containers that weigh heavily on their small bodies. Twelve-year-old Yamen Saleh describes chronic shoulder and back pain from carrying water, while his mother Fidaa Saleh watches her children exhausted and unable to focus on learning.

Medical staff such as Dr Sumaya Salah note rising cases of muscle strain, hernias and scoliosis among youngsters like nine-year-old Raghad. UNICEF estimates that 82 % of Gaza families are water-insecure, with nearly 90 % of water infrastructure destroyed, a situation compounded by the Israeli blockade that restricts spare parts and aid trucks. The mayor of Maghazi, Mohammed Mosleh, says the camp’s single water tanker must serve over 5,000 families, highlighting the dire scarcity. Despite these hardships, families cling to hope through education and community activities organized by the camp committee.