Daily struggle for clean water and food takes a physical toll on Gaza kids

What the report says

Al Jazeera reports from Maghazi refugee camp in central Gaza that children are carrying a heavy share of the daily burden created by severe shortages of water and food. The article centers on families living in displacement tents, where children wake early to wait for water trucks, line up for community kitchens and often return with little or nothing. In one case, 10-year-old Maysara Zaqout is described helping collect containers of water for her family, while 12-year-old Yamen Saleh and his younger brother Aman spend much of the day searching for supplies.

The report says the repeated lifting and long waits are taking a physical and emotional toll. A local doctor quoted by Al Jazeera says clinics in central Gaza are seeing muscle strain, spasms and more serious conditions linked to carrying heavy water containers. The article also says aid access remains limited and that Gaza’s water and sanitation systems have been heavily damaged during the war, contributing to shortages across the enclave.

Maghazi’s mayor tells Al Jazeera that the camp has only one municipal water tanker serving more than 5,000 families, with fuel, spare parts and access to wells constrained by blockade-related restrictions and broader movement limitations. The piece also notes that aid groups have reduced some services this year. Beyond the immediate hardships, the story highlights how children’s routines, health and sense of childhood have been altered, even as families try to keep education going through camp-based learning spaces and activities.