"My life stopped when the war started"

A story from Gaza 

"I work in Caritas Jerusalem, you can call me AD I am 33 years old, if you ignore the war. Everything stopped when the war started. More than two years have passed. Despite this, it feels like these years don’t count when I think about how old I am. Everything I had before the war is gone. My memories, how I perceive time, even how I think about my age have changed.”

This is how a story we received from an employee begins: Caritas Jerusalem. It is a personal story, but at the same time resonates with the reality of thousands of families who have been subjected to displacement, hunger, injury and loss over the past two years. AD's story provides an unfiltered insight into the everyday lives of many Palestinians.

"I lived with my family in Gaza City. When we were told to evacuate, we headed south. We left our home, our belongings, and our safety. We thought this would be quick and that we would soon return home, but we were sent on a long journey marked by hunger, fear, and constant uncertainty. 

Meals came less and less often. We had to wait hours in line to get bread. Clean water disappeared. Prices rose. We learned to survive on two small meals a day, measured with precision so that there was enough for the next day. 

December 10, 2023, my life changed forever. While we were sleeping, the room was bombed. I was injured under the rubble, but I survived. It was worse for my brother, he lost his leg.  

From that moment on, life became a continuous loop of hospital visits, fear, and flight. The family had to flee again and again. From Khan Younis to Rafah, to hospitals, tents, and temporary shelters. Each time we fled, we had to start over, carrying trauma instead of possessions. 

Today I am 35 years old. When someone asks me, I answer that I am 33.  

"My life stopped the last year I lived without war."

Behind every number in the statistics from Gaza, we find a person whose life has been changed, a family forced to flee, a future on hold. Despite their own traumas and problems, the staff of Caritas Jerusalem continue to provide care and hope where it is needed most. The support they receive from the worldwide Caritas -network included Caritas Norway and from donors like you, are among the bright spots that give them strength not only to endure themselves, but also to give. emergency response to others in the midst of this nightmare.

Read about this year's Lenten campaign HERE

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