The market in Asdaa camp, a sprawling area of tents and makeshift shelters on the central Gaza coast, was bustling with shoppers on the first morning after the ceasefire. Ahmad Al-Amarna, a 25-year-old stall holder, expressed happiness over the reduced prices and end of killings, but acknowledged that life remains extremely hard for survivors.
Health services have been decimated, water and fuel are scarce, and humanitarian officials have called for a “surge of aid” to stave off disease and potential famine. Al-Amarna and his family struggle with the cold and unpredictable weather, requiring essential items like blankets, clothes, and food at reasonable prices.
Ghalia Sobeh, 54, had come to the market in search of rice for her eight children, who rely on charity and aid due to her husband’s disability and lack of income. Over 630 humanitarian aid trucks entered Gaza on Sunday, with at least 300 going to the north, where the crisis is most acute.
Despite the relief brought by the ceasefire, many blame a cartel of big traders for exploiting limited supplies, pushing prices higher in recent months. Abu Khaled Al-Muzaini, a former businessman, stated that even with lower prices, the struggle remains immense due to resource depletion and displacement.
A UN report last year estimated that rebuilding Gaza’s shattered homes could take decades, with significant challenges such as unexploded ordnance and asbestos. Noha Abed, 28, returned to her family’s home in Rafah, where they now live in a single livable room, but focuses on securing basic necessities for the family.
For many, including Abed, the ceasefire has brought a sense of relief, with the ability to sleep without fear for their children’s safety. However, the road to recovery will be long and challenging, requiring sustained aid efforts to address the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jan/21/the-struggle-remains-immense-daily-life-in-gaza-as-the-truce-takes-hold