In brief
As war ravages Gaza, families like Mariam Abu Amra's cope with a continuous blackout that has stripped away basic necessities, pushing them to rely on alternative methods for survival.
Mariam Abu Amra, a mother of six, faces nightly fears as darkness descends upon her home in Deir al Balah, Gaza. Since the onset of the war over a year ago, electricity has been cut off, forcing families to navigate a life devoid of light. “Every night is a struggle for us,” she recounts, her children’s anxiety palpable as they cling to their lit cellphones for comfort and illumination. With the power outage initiated by Israeli measures to weaken Hamas, Gazans have experienced a profound transformation in their everyday lives. Ms. Abu Amra reflects on how heavily she relied on electricity for even the simplest tasks. “I never knew how much all the people and the families here, including myself, relied on electricity,” she shared. Cooking has become a challenge as she resorts to a fire for meals, and daily chores must be completed before sunset, leaving her to wake up earlier to maximize the limited daylight. The absence of power has turned basic utilities into luxury items. Medical equipment lies inoperative, further complicating the already strained healthcare system, which has been severely impacted by the extended blackout. This situation underscores the essential role electricity plays in contemporary life, highlighting its absence amid ongoing conflict. Families like Ms. Abu Amra’s strive to adapt, drawing upon resilience while grappling with the formidable and sometimes frightening realities brought by the prolonged darkness.
