SciDev.Net’s Arabic edition reviewed how two years of war changed Gaza as a ceasefire takes effect. Early reports described a collapse of services after water, electricity and fuel were cut and checkpoints closed. Families slept on hospital grounds without water, food or power, and displaced people relied on canned food. More than 2 million residents were deprived of basic necessities.
Local ingenuity also appeared. People repurposed bombed solar panels and recycled batteries to run appliances and charge phones. Some converted plastic waste into fuel, despite environmental and health risks. Small-scale desalination projects, supported by engineers such as Adi Al-Daghma, provided limited clean water.
Agriculture and health suffered severely: satellite images showed farmland turned barren, and over 50,000 farmers lost their livelihoods. Health services collapsed: hospitals were damaged, sewage overflowed, and reports documented outbreaks of hepatitis A and widespread diarrhoea. The UN classified the situation as a famine, with more than half a million people facing starvation. Education and research were hit too, with more than 90% of schools damaged and over 625,000 students affected.
Difficult words
- conflict — A struggle or fight between groups.
- humanitarian — Related to helping people in need.humanitarian crisis
- resilience — The ability to recover from difficulties.resiliency
- adapt — To change in response to new conditions.adapted
- educational — Related to learning and schools.educational resources
- determination — The quality of being firm in purpose.
- initiative — A new plan or action to achieve something.initiatives
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- What do you think is the most important factor for resilience?
- How can outside support help communities in crisis?
- What role does education play during conflicts?
Related articles
Young men in South Korea move to the political right
Surveys after the June 2025 snap presidential election show many young men in South Korea have shifted to the political right, creating a large gender gap on feminism, redistribution and immigration, even as most still support democratic rules.
Some low-cost glucometers read newborn glucose accurately
A Rice360 study tested commonly available point-of-care glucometers in the lab to see if low-cost models can measure newborn glucose safely. Several inexpensive meters gave reliable readings at neonatal ranges, offering options for low-resource hospitals.
High-dose antioxidants may harm sperm and offspring
A study in mice found that regular high doses of antioxidant supplements can damage sperm and change skull and facial development in offspring. Researchers advise caution for men taking large antioxidant doses when planning children.
