Mariam Abu Amra’s six children experience sheer panic as darkness falls each evening. The night brings an overwhelming fear of the dark, and since the onset of war in Gaza, their home has been enveloped in complete darkness by bedtime. Outside, the neighborhood is similarly shrouded in obscurity, with only the glow of cellphone screens providing a flicker of light, consuming precious battery life.
The Gaza Strip has been enduring a relentless power outage for over a year, forcing its residents to adapt in ways that fall drastically short of meeting their basic needs. “Every night is a struggle for us,” lamented Ms. Abu Amra, 36, a resident of Deir al Balah in central Gaza. “Sometimes my children ask me when the electricity will return, but I am left without an answer.”
Electricity is a vital component of modern living, and the scarcity in Gaza has become acute since Israel implemented measures to sever the electricity supply in the immediate aftermath of the war, claiming it was an attempt to weaken Hamas. This year-long blackout has profound implications, exacerbating the deprivations caused by the ongoing conflict and transforming basic necessities—such as operational medical equipment and simple bedroom nightlights—into unattainable luxuries.
“I never realized just how dependent we all are on electricity, including myself,” Ms. Abu Amra reflected, noting her new reality. She now cooks over an open fire and is compelled to wash clothes by hand, all before sunset. “I’ve had to adjust my routine, waking up early to make the most of the limited daylight we have.”
- Children playing with a nonfunctioning electricity cable near the border fence between Gaza and Egypt in the southern Gaza city of Rafah in February.
- Credit: Mohammed Abed/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images
