Olfat is a 75‑year‑old widow who lived most of her life in the Al‑Shati refugee camp, in the north of Gaza City. She raised her only son alone after her husband died when the boy was 12. Before the war, Olfat was largely independent. She could walk unaided, cook for herself and manage her daily needs.
Her son, now 44, was employed in a stationery shop before the war. Since the escalation of hostilities, he has been unable to work.
Displacement and living conditions
Since October 2023, Olfat and her family have been displaced multiple times. Their home in the northern part of Al‑Shati refugee camp was destroyed and they now live in Zawayda IDP camp, in a tent shared by seven people: Olfat, her son, her daughter‑in‑law and four grandchildren.
The family’s living conditions are extremely limited. The tent offers little privacy or protection, and Olfat spends most of her time lying or sitting on a thin mattress on the ground. She is no longer able to move around independently.
Health and wellbeing
Olfat’s physical and mental health has deteriorated sharply since the war began. She has lost a significant amount of weight and is described by her family as ‘skin and bone’. She does not receive a nutritious diet and struggles to sleep without medication.
She lives with diabetes and high blood pressure and suffers from pleural effusion (fluid in the lungs), chronic phlegm and recurrent inflammation and infection. While she usually receives diabetes medication through aid organisations, she is often unable to access other essential medicines. These are sometimes sent by her brothers in the West Bank, but when this is not possible, Olfat goes without treatment because the family cannot afford to buy medicines privately.
Over the past two years, Olfat has experienced a noticeable cognitive decline. She often struggles to understand her situation and repeatedly asks to return home. Her family must explain, repeatedly, that their home no longer exists.
Food insecurity
The household relies almost entirely on meals provided by a communal charity kitchen in the camp. This typically consists of one meal a day, mainly rice, pasta or lentils, with some vegetables. Meat is only occasionally available, usually on Fridays. The family has no access to fruit or dairy products, as they have no income to purchase these items.
Dignity and care needs
For the past seven months, Olfat has relied on continence care items, which are costly and difficult for the family to obtain. They have only received free items once, through an NGO. Most of the time, they must buy them, adding to their financial strain.
Her care needs are met almost entirely by her immediate family, who are themselves under constant pressure to secure food, water and basic supplies for the household.
Why Olfat’s story matters
Olfat’s experience reflects the compounded impact of conflict on older people: displacement, deteriorating health, loss of independence and reliance on overstretched family members. Her story highlights how older people’s needs are often overlooked in humanitarian responses, particularly when access to healthcare, nutrition and dignity items is limited.
Despite the hardships she is living with, Olfat is not defined solely by her needs. She is a mother and grandmother whose life, independence and sense of home have been profoundly disrupted. Her family’s efforts to care for her, under extreme conditions, underline both the resilience of displaced families and the urgent need for age‑inclusive humanitarian support.
Source: Amnesty International