HHo0s

outside on the grounds; other IDPs also tried to make beds inside hospital corridorsand stairwells. The first FFM team observed very harsh living conditions among thesedisplaced people, and noted that several of them seemed injured or ill, in conditionsthat would have otherwise merited hospitalisation.By the time of the second FFM team’s visit in early September, most of thesedisplaced people had vanished, presumably having returned to their homes or to thesites of their destruction, or having found other solutions.The second team interviewed internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the community, inTel Al Hawa neighbourhood in Gaza City.One of the IDPs, Fadi Abu Awuda, 136 age 42, was displaced from Beit Hanoun innorthern Gaza to a rented house at Tel Al Hawa, where the interview took place.His testimony, summarised below, illustrates the difficulties of displaced peoplein areas that suffered widespread destruction, who often could not remain in theirneighbourhoods even with relatives, because of the destruction of several adjacentbuildings at a time:The interviewee is a private accountant working mainly with private businessesand companies. His work was completely interrupted during and after the war, asthere was no possible economic activity under the attacks.He comes from a poor, traditional, extended family, and worked very hard all hislife to build a beautiful house and to be able to offer his two children the kind oflife he never had during his childhood. His house cost around $90,000; one thirdof its mortgage remains.He underlines several times during the interview that his house was far from anymilitary front and far from the border with Israel. There were no rocket launchers andno known militant residents in the area, therefore there was no reason for an attack onthis area. Personally, too, he does not have any political activity or affiliation. His onlyinterest in life has been securing the future of his family.His house was attacked on 10 July 2014 during severe random neighbourhood shootingfrom [Israeli] tanks and planes. They were warned by phone (a recorded message)to evacuate the area and so they did. When they could finally return to evaluate thedamage, they found that their home had been completely levelled in the attack.There were 4 family members living in the house: himself, his wife, a daughter(aged 7) and a son (aged 4). After their displacement, he rented a house for hisfamily in Tal al Hawa because he thought it was for a short period and he couldafford the high rents of the neighbourhood (one of the fanciest in the city). Hepays $400 per month for the rental. Seven houses belonging to his siblings werealso destroyed. However, his brothers could not afford to pay rent, so they are alldisplaced and living in UNRWA schools.He is planning to move back to the same neighbourhood (Beit Hanoun) now thatthe danger is over. He wants his children to continue to attend the same school.136Interview held 8 Sep 2014, by HPH, AV and Marwan Diab of the local NGO GCMHP.66