Why cemetery-dwelling Gazans fear the living, not the dead
A cemetery in central Gaza City is home to dozens of families, who receive only minimal aid from the Ministry of Social Affairs.
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Life is hard for the children living in the Sheikh Shaaban cemetery in central Gaza City. They were born here, among the dead, and their home is between the graves. The smiles on their faces hide fearful stories.
The cemetery sprawls over two large areas. The eastern and western sides are split by an asphalt street that runs through Gaza City.
Signs of misery mark the faces of the children playing among the graves. Although they are all under 12, they look much older. Around 22 families live in the cemetery, amounting to over 150 people, the majority children and elderly.
Mohammed, a 10-year-old in a school uniform, mistook us for a charitable institution. As soon as he spotted us he said, “Write down my father’s name so we would get aid. We don’t have food at home and the rain has entered the house.”
