Jumana Taiseer Mughari ,On the shores of Deir al-Balah, a child sells instant noodles instead of playing in the sand. Under siege, childhood becomes a currency for survival, and the sea quietly witnesses dreams slipping away.
A Small Girl on a Big Beach
On a sweltering afternoon in Deir al-Balah, Janan Siyam, an 11-year-old girl from northern Gaza, tirelessly offered instant noodles to beachgoers. Her voice, hoarse from repeated pleas, struggled to carry the words, “Do you want noodles, uncle?” The exhaustion was etched in every step she took, her small figure a stark contrast to the vast sea behind her.
The War that Stole Innocence
In the aftermath of relentless aggression, childhood in Gaza has been violently interrupted. The children who once played in the streets, their laughter filling the air, now find themselves thrust into the roles of breadwinners and caretakers. The innocence of their early years has been stripped away, replaced by the harsh realities of survival.
Forced to Flee: A Family’s Struggle
Janan and her family fled their home in the Zeitoun neighborhood on October 13, 2023. Since then, they have moved from one temporary shelter to another, each displacement adding another layer of hardship to her young life. “We’ve been displaced a lot,” Janan recounted, wiping the sweat mixed with sand from her sunburned forehead. “First, we moved to a tent in Nuseirat, then to Rafah, and now we’re here, in Zawaida.”
A Day in the Life of a Child Breadwinner
Every move came with its challenges. In each new location, Janan and her siblings would split up to sell whatever they could to scrape together a few coins. “Yes, my brothers, sisters, and I go to the market, buy a pack of noodles, split it among us, and sell it,” she explained with a resolve far beyond her years.
Dreams Shattered by Responsibility
This was not the life Janan had imagined. Before the war, she had dreams of wearing beautiful dresses, attending school, and playing with friends. But those dreams had been shattered. “My dad is sick; he can’t walk. He’s very ill, and we try to work and support the house,” she added, her eyes betraying the weight of her responsibilities.
The Harsh Routine of Survival
Janan’s daily routine is grueling. “I wake up at seven in the morning because we can’t breathe inside the tent. We wake up early, carry water buckets, searching for any place we can fill them to start our day. Then, we stand in line until noon to get drinkable water. I pour water over my head to cool off from the harsh sun, then grab my box and roam around, selling what I can.”
Longing for a Lost Childhood
Her words were punctuated with tears, reflecting the deep sorrow and exhaustion she felt. Despite her best efforts to maintain composure, the weight of her lost childhood was evident. “I love studying. I wish I could go back to school like before,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “I wish I could have a packet of noodles that I sell here… um… I, um… can’t eat what I sell so that I don’t lose out on sales.”
Preserving Dignity Amidst Adversity
When asked if she would allow her picture to be taken, Janan politely declined. She remembered a time when her skin was fairer, before the war and the months of living in a tent, working under the relentless sun. She didn’t want to expose her vulnerability, poverty, and limited resources to the world. Despite the hardships, Janan holds onto her dignity, feeling that showing her vulnerability in a newspaper photo would be demeaning.
A Fading Sunset and a Fading Childhood
As the sun began to set over the beach, Janan packed up her unsold noodles, her small hands trembling from fatigue. She looked out at the sea, perhaps dreaming of the day when she might return to her school desk instead of these endless days of labor. For now, all she can do is carry on, one step at a time.
In Gaza, the laughter of children has been silenced by the sounds of conflict. Their dreams of a carefree youth have been replaced by the struggle for basic necessities and the relentless pursuit of survival. The innocence of childhood in Gaza has faded away, leaving behind a fragile adulthood fraught with tears.
