The face of Samar Ahmed, 37, shows clear signs of exhaustion.
It is not just because she has five children, nor that they have been displaced several times since the start of Israel’s brutal invasion of Gaza 14 months ago and are now living in cramped, cold conditions in a makeshift tent in the al-Mawasi area of Khan Younis.
Samar is also a victim of domestic violence and has no way to escape her abuser in the cramped conditions of this camp.
Two days ago, her husband beat her around the face leaving her with a swollen cheek and a blood spot in her eye. Her eldest daughter clung to her all night following that attack, which happened in front of the children.
Samar does not want to break up her family — they have already been forced to move from Gaza City, to the Shati camp in Rafah and now to Khan Younis — and the children are young. Her eldest, Laila, is just 15. She also has 12-year-old Zain, 10-year-old Dana, Lana, seven, and Adi, five, to think about.
Read the full report by Al Jazeera here
