Gaza war separates family as mother seeks medical aid in Egypt

The conflict in the Gaza Strip has caused profound family separations, as illustrated by the experience of Vidán Abu Matar, a mother of eight children. In November 2023, Abu Matar fled Gaza for Egypt to seek medical treatment for her daughter, Nur, who suffered a skull fracture and brain hemorrhage following an Israeli strike near their home in the Nuseirat refugee camp.

While Abu Matar eventually managed to gather her children in an apartment in Egypt, her husband, Hatem, remains trapped in Gaza. Hatem is injured with limited mobility and is currently living in a tent in Nuseirat, unable to work. The family faces significant financial hardship, with Abu Matar relying on donations to support her children while expressing constant concern for her husband's safety and well-being.