In the aftermath of a relentless onslaught by Israeli forces, families from the northern Gaza Strip find themselves adapting to an arduous existence in makeshift mud homes, an alternative deemed “less tormenting than tents” but still fraught with challenges.
As violence subsides and as a ceasefire deal to end 15 months of Israel’s genocide on the Palestinian enclave enters its final stages, the grim reality of displacement looms large, heightening the struggle for shelter and safety amidst the wreckage of war-torn neighbourhoods.
A September analysis of satellite imagery conducted by UNOSAT revealed that nearly 164,000 buildings in the Gaza Strip have been damaged or destroyed since October 7. This staggering figure represents 66% of all structures in the region.
Sameh Hamad, a 45-year-old father of five, is among those trying to construct a semblance of stability for his children even as talks of a ceasefire finally working out are being circulated.
With mud as his primary building material, he transformed a dilapidated tent into a more robust shelter, reinforced with clay walls and a nylon roof. This construction effort is aimed at organising their living space efficiently while also keeping their makeshift mud dwelling elevated half a metre from the ground to prevent moisture damage.
“We had no choice but to look for a place that would be less harmful than the dilapidated tents and less cold for my family,” Sameh said, reflecting on the dire need for a better living space. “My children were shivering last winter, and I couldn’t afford blankets or buy firewood at a very high price.”
Escalating humanitarian crisis
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) reported that with heavy rains hitting the Gaza Strip from November 25, living conditions have worsened amid limited humanitarian response capacities.
The average temperature in Gaza falls between 10°C and 20°C in January and the rainy season typically lasts from November to February, with January being the wettest month.
The head of UNRWA Philippe Lazzarini said in a post on X that as winter arrived, people in Gaza “will not only die because of airstrikes, diseases or hunger. Winter in Gaza means more people will die shivering because of the cold, especially among the most vulnerable including older people + children.” More than eight babies have died of hypothermia in the past weeks.
Despite his exhaustion, Sameh’s previous experience in construction has helped him adapt. He recounts last winter’s struggles when his children were cold, and he couldn’t afford blankets or firewood. His decision to build with mud was driven by its low cost and availability, which allowed him to create a livable space without relying on external resources. The warmth provided by properly constructed mud walls offers a stark contrast to the coldness of their previous tents.
Recent United Nations reports have highlighted the catastrophic conditions in Gaza, estimating that as many as 1.9 million people have been displaced since October 2023, leaving them vulnerable and homeless.
Many parts of the Strip lay in ruins, with the United Nations depicting that it could take up to 350 years to rebuild if it remains under continued blockage. They now live in precarious conditions, using traditional methods to restore what remains.
Community resilience
Taking a break, Sameh and his children sit on mud chairs in their makeshift living room, while his wife prepares bread using borrowed flour, cooking on a wood-burning stove.
He shares that the construction of their home took about two weeks, relying heavily on the assistance of brothers and relatives, highlighting the ongoing need for repairs and reinforcements during their stay, a reflection of both the structural fragility of mud homes and the urgency of their situation.
But Sameh remains optimistic. “It’s inexpensive and requires no more than personal effort to provide, knead, and build it,” he explained.
He has inscribed the word “Returnees” in sea blue at the entrance of their mud house, symbolising his hopeful, albeit uncertain, outlook on their displacement and a desire to return to the northern Gaza Strip.
“Displacement is hell in every way, whether in a tent or rooms made of mud,” said Sameh.
He shares insights from other displaced individuals, like 49-year-old Nael Salah, who discovered that the soft sand above hid solid mud underneath during their efforts to dig for water. This revelation led to the community pooling their resources and skills to not only build protective walls for a newly created well but also to expand this construction effort, eventually producing around 200 bricks a day with locally made wooden moulds.
Sameh’s experience is not unique; many families have been forced into improvised housing, struggling against the harsh realities of life after the war.
Nael, a former Arabic language teacher, shared his distress at the change in his family’s circumstances. “We feel pain and anger that we have reached the point of living in mud houses,” he lamented. “It’s as if we have gone back seven decades or more.”
The hunger crisis and ongoing struggles
Despite active engagement in their makeshift homes, hunger remains a pressing issue. According to UNRWA, the severe food shortages facing the two million people reliant on humanitarian aid are expected to intensify. The United Nations reported that fewer aid trucks entered Gaza in October than at any point since the conflict between Israel and Hamas began over a year ago.
Sixty-four-year-old Issa Adeeb, who fled from the northern regions, reflects on his life with a bittersweet nostalgia. He recalls a time when living in mud houses was just a childhood memory, a far cry from his current reality.
“I lived my childhood in mud houses for a few years, and now, after all this time, I find myself returning to the same mud houses. It feels like an oppression,” he expresses.
Despite the harshness of his circumstances, Issa holds on to a belief in resilience, asserting, “Whatever it is, I believe that we as Palestinians can adapt to any situation and make it work for us.”
However, the family’s living conditions remain grim. Pain fills Issa’s voice as he points to the thin faces and emaciated bodies of the children around him. “As soon as we solve one problem, another emerges — right now, it’s severe hunger that we’re grappling with.”
His words highlight the relentless challenges they face each day.
As families like Issa’s strive to create homes from mud, they cling to a flicker of hope for a return to peace and stability.
“My greatest wish now is for a thick tarpaulin to cover the ceiling of the mud room where I currently live with my ailing wife.”
Mohamed Solaimane is a Gaza-based journalist with bylines in regional and international outlets, focusing on humanitarian and environmental issues
This piece is published in collaboration with Egab
