Today marks 1,000 days of the catastrophic escalation in Gaza. In less than three years, the enclave has been altered beyond recognition.
Fewer people walk the streets of its cities and villages – more than 73,000 people have been killed and some families with means made the heartbreaking decision to leave Gaza when the chance arose.
Of those who remain, at least 1.9 million are displaced, struggling to cope with the heat, then the cold and rain in tents that were never meant to last so many seasons.
While a ceasefire came into effect in October, daily violations have been recorded and Israel’s illegal blockade remains in place, with restrictions on getting desperately needed items into Gaza still punishingly tight.
The path ahead looks bleak; hundreds of thousands dream of returning home while knowing their buildings are no longer standing. Even if farmers could return to their fields and fisherman to their boats, they would find the land unworkable, and most boats destroyed.
Children, who between this crisis and the Covid-19 pandemic could have missed up to five years of school, have no idea when, or if, life will ever return to normal.
Hunger shapes the rhythms of daily life for everyone in Gaza, whose hours are dictated by the never-ending search for food, water and other essentials.
People in dire need of healthcare often cannot find it in Gaza and are prevented from leaving to seek help elsewhere, and the Strip’s water, electricity and sanitation infrastructure have all but collapsed.
The sheer scale of the devastation is hard to envisage.
