[Letters from Gaza] All I need is to go to highschool with my pals once more

My title is Niveen Basam, and I’m 14 years outdated. I used to be born in Beit Hanoun, in northern Gaza. There are seven of us in my household: my mom and father, my grandmother and grandfather, my two youthful sisters, and me. My dad is a barber, and my mother labored at a girls’s sports activities membership as an athletic coach, instructing women basketball and different issues, however my dad’s barber store was destroyed within the conflict, and my mother is now not engaged on account of all sports activities amenities being destroyed. 

My youthful sisters are Zeina, who’s 10, and Aya, who’s 2. I’m happiest when the three of us are in a position to share a bit of sweet, which is difficult to search out. However generally I get indignant when my sisters use or break my stuff. 

My finest pal is Faten, and she or he resembles me. She is gorgeous and calm. We have been in the identical grade in class, and we lived on the identical street, so we went to highschool collectively day-after-day and at all times ate lunch collectively. Her mom and my mom have been pals, too. 

However I haven’t seen her for the reason that conflict. We have been separated when my household left the town, and we haven’t met once more. I haven’t heard something about her household both. I pray that after the conflict is over and we will return house, she shall be there and we will go to highschool collectively once more. 

I used to be in elementary faculty, however I haven’t attended faculty in two years. Most colleges have been bombed, and a few at the moment are housing for displaced folks. Some individuals who have telephones or laptops can take lessons on-line, however my household doesn’t have these kinds of gadgets, so I’ve to check by myself with books. I really like learning the Arabic language, particularly writing. I get pleasure from drawing too, however I discover English and arithmetic troublesome. 

After the beginning of the conflict, we evacuated to Gaza Metropolis, then to Rafah, then again to Deir al-Balah. Through the ceasefire earlier this yr, we went again to Beit Hanoun, however after the ceasefire ended, we went to Gaza Metropolis. In September, when Israel was attacking Gaza Metropolis, we have been near Roya Tower, an enormous tower, when it was blown up. Each time I bear in mind the bombing, the destruction and the sound of explosions, I really feel anger rise in my coronary heart, and I all of a sudden start to cry.

We’ve been in Deir al-Balah for over two months now, after returning in September. On the refugee camp the place we dwell, I get up early due to the loud noises. Typically I get up due to the warmth or flies and mosquitoes. Typically I get up from the rain that has soaked by means of our tent. 

Within the mornings, my father goes with my grandfather to replenish water cartons. A water truck comes with potable water, and the traces are very lengthy. There are sometimes quarrels between these ready in line. We’re afraid of them quarreling, and so my sister and I look ahead to our father and grandfather midway and assist deliver the gallons of water again to our tent, as a result of it’s a protracted stroll. 

Even making breakfast is troublesome and may take greater than three hours, as a result of we want firewood. However we don’t have the funds for to purchase costly firewood, so we collect sticks to burn. Typically when it’s windy or wet, we’ve hassle getting the fireplace began. As soon as we get the fireplace going, we will make bread with flour offered by the World Meals Programme, and eat canned lentils. That’s all there’s to eat. 

After that, there’s not a lot for me to do. There’s no faculty for me to go to, so I spend many of the day drawing with my sisters. My dream is to grow to be a well-known designer. Then I look ahead to the day to finish so I can fall asleep. 

I’m most joyful once I have a look at photos from earlier than the conflict began on Oct. 7, 2023. However I get unhappy considering that there’s no understanding how lengthy we’ll must dwell in a tent. The tent we dwell in was flooded because of the heavy rain and isn’t appropriate for winter as a result of it’s outdated. All our belongings within the tent have been broken by the rain. It was an indescribable feeling, a sense of drowning and ache. Previously, we was once very joyful when it rained, however now we’re very afraid that we’d die from the chilly or from drowning.

After the ceasefire was introduced in October, I used to be joyful. However I really feel afraid that the truce is not going to proceed and that the combating will begin once more. We’re not allowed to return to our houses behind the “yellow line” occupied by Israel’s navy. If combating begins, we gained’t be capable to return to our house.  

What do I need for myself? I need a cell phone to check on and talk with the skin world. I need a good shelter that’s protected. I wish to not concern dying in bombings, and I wish to dwell someplace that I can be taught. I wish to not must see my mom and father with silent tears of their eyes as a result of they really feel a deep sense of helplessness. 

In Gaza, there are numerous worries, sorrows, destruction and nervousness. Within the midst of those pains, nobody has the power to ask you about your self as a human being. There isn’t any time to speak about your self or your experiences, and nobody remembers me, besides you. 

Please don’t overlook about me and my household. Don’t overlook about all of us Palestinians residing in Gaza. 

Edited into letter format by Kim Ji-hoon, workers reporter; Illustration by Kim Hong-mo

Please direct questions or feedback to [english@hani.co.kr]