Oxfam Diaries: Ghada Reports from Gaza
THE FIGHT FOR PEACE AND RELIEF IN GAZA
Ghada Alhaddad, an Oxfam staff member in Gaza, shares her deeply personal account of surviving war, displacement, and loss. Over 15 months of conflict, Ghada and her family were forced to flee their home multiple times—each time leaving behind not just belongings, but a sense of safety.
Through her diary entries, Ghada captures the heartbreak of losing loved ones, the fear of constant displacement, and the fragile hope sparked by a ceasefire. Her words reveal the harsh reality faced by families in Gaza: children starving, parents searching for food, and communities clinging to hope amid devastation.
Through her diary entries, Ghada captures the heartbreak of losing loved ones, the fear of constant displacement, and the fragile hope sparked by a ceasefire. Her words reveal the harsh reality faced by families in Gaza: children starving, parents searching for food, and communities clinging to hope amid devastation.
29th August 2024:
“I never thought I’d find myself in this position. Forcibly displaced. It all happened so quickly. My heart raced as I grabbed what I could. Clothes, medicines and important papers. It felt like I was losing my roots.”
“Once we moved outside the home, I realised it’s not just about the things we own, it’s about the feelings of safety that this war has taken from us.”
You can hear Ghada’s thoughts on being displaced.
17th January 2025
“Honestly, once I heard the announcement of a ceasefire, I experienced a mixture of feelings – happiness, sorrow, fear. I cried for everything we endured in the past 15 months.”
“I hope this ceasefire will hold and not fall apart again. We hope that we don’t have to live through this experience of war again.”
17th January 2025
“Honestly, once I heard the announcement of a ceasefire, I experienced a mixture of feelings – happiness, sorrow, fear. I cried for everything we endured in the past 15 months.”
“I hope this ceasefire will hold and not fall apart again. We hope that we don’t have to live through this experience of war again.”
You can hear Ghada’s thoughts on the ceasefire
10th June 2025
“Things are really hard in Gaza right now. There is so much fear. Children are starving everywhere. Parents are either out searching for food, or trying to find wood to cook with. “
“It is heartbreaking. And I am scared, I’m really scared, that this war won’t stop until there is nothing left. “
“I was displaced recently with my entire family. I can’t remember how many times we have been displaced. We asked ourselves: ‘Do we stay here & die, or do we try to leave and give life another chance?’ “
“We decided to give life another chance. But the truth is, I don’t want just any kind of life. I want a life where there is peace, where there is justice.”— Ghada Alhaddad, Oxfam staff member in Gaza
You can listen to Ghada’s sobering recent update from Gaza
Tackling the Global Causes
- Oxfam and our partners support legal efforts challenging the transfer of weapons, which potentially contribute to violations of international humanitarian law.
- Oxfam’s “Water War Crimes” report continues to inform discussions on accountability and recovery.
- Oxfam has joined collective civil society efforts urging the international community to act.
- Our focus remains on securing a lasting ceasefire, protecting civilians, and promoting a just and rights-based future for both Palestinians and Israelis.
Despite closed borders, relentless violence, and now the declaration of a man-made famine limiting what we can do, your support is helping us reach people with vital water, hygiene, and psychosocial services. Please donate today to help us to continue our vital work. Thank you
Confronting the Daily Consequences
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