This week, a fierce storm struck Gaza City, bringing heavy rain that wreaked havoc on the al-Hussari family’s lives. Osama al-Hussari, a 57-year-old father, found himself battling not only the elements but also the trauma of living under a severely damaged roof. As he dealt with flooding in his home, he faced a tragic incident that changed their lives forever.

Tragedy Strikes

Osama’s home in the Shati refugee camp was housing not just his immediate family of twelve but also extended relatives, totaling twenty-five people. Despite having sustained damage from two years of Israeli bombings, this house was their only refuge amidst a crisis of displacement.

As rainwater began to seep through the roof, Osama reached out for assistance from his neighbor, Mohammed al-Helou, also 57, who had a background in construction. Together, they climbed onto the roof to inspect the damage. In a tragic twist, while they were working, the roof suddenly collapsed, trapping Mohammed beneath the rubble.

It took rescue teams two hours to recover Mohammed’s body, adding an unbearable weight of grief to Osama’s struggle. Six other people, including two children, were injured in the ordeal. “It was absolutely terrifying, like a torrent of dust and stones exploding in my face,” Osama recalled, tears streaming down his cheeks. “We survived by a miracle, but my dear neighbor and friend lost his life without warning.”

A Home Under Siege

In Gaza, having a home is a rarity. Many buildings have been destroyed in the ongoing conflict, yet Osama clung to his deteriorating structure, considering it a safer option compared to the alternatives of living in tents, which countless others have resorted to.

After a ceasefire in October, many family members who had been displaced sought refuge in his house, finding brief comfort in its stance against devastation. He expressed relief upon returning to his home, despite its clear disrepair. “We breathed a sigh of relief, but we knew it was in bad shape, especially after so many explosions nearby,” he indicated, referring to the debris around their home.

Osama’s family believed staying inside their cracked walls was the better choice, reasoning that a concrete roof would provide more protection than a tent, which posed its own hazards, particularly against the cold. “We didn’t imagine it would collapse on us,” he stated, reflecting on the irony of their situation.

Desperate Escape

When the building fell, Osama’s wife, Rawiya, 41, fled with her five children as fear and chaos enveloped those around her. She was soon devastated to learn that her middle son, Mohammed, was still trapped under the debris. “I lost my mind and ran back towards him,” she recounted, fighting back tears.

With help from others, she desperately dug through the rubble until she heard her son’s voice calling for her, reassuring her that he was alive. Tragically, the neighbor next to him did not respond, indicating he had perished in the collapse.

Rawiya, alongside other mothers who had escaped, trembled as they relived the harrowing moments. They were left with nothing, forced to escape without their belongings or any assurance of safety. “We don’t know if we are supposed to die by bombing or collapsing buildings,” she lamented, surveying the ruins of their home. “It looks as if a missile hit it.”

A Dire Situation

Since winter began, officials have recorded seventeen collapses in Gaza, and with the ongoing storms, that number is expected to rise. In response, emergency teams are mobilizing to assess and evacuate vulnerable residences before the next wave of bad weather arrives.

For the al-Hussari family, however, the immediate future is bleak. With no place to go, they spent one night sleeping on the street, exposed to the elements. “We had no tents, no tarps. Our end feels imminent,” Osama said with frustration. “It’s either we die under crumbling walls or freeze to death outside.”

“I wish we had all died inside the house and were spared from this life,” he concluded, a chilling testament to their despair.

Key Takeaways

• The al-Hussari family faced a catastrophic roof collapse during a storm in Gaza City.
• Osama and his family had been sheltering twenty-five individuals when tragedy struck.
• Living conditions in Gaza are perilous, with many families opting to stay in deteriorating homes rather than risk the cold in tents.
• The situation continues to escalate as officials warn of increasing collapses in the region.