On the road with a truck driver bringing aid to Gaza

There are children of all ages waiting in line for rice handouts.

Lamees Mohammad Al Mizar’i is 16 years old and comes from Gaza City. He now lives in a tent with eight family members. Lamees looked back, almost in disbelief, at his gesture before fighting over the food.

“I’m picky, when my mother made cauliflower, I used to complain about it, saying ‘we eat cauliflower every day, I want something different with meat or chicken,’ but now I eat everything, the good and the good . bad

He describes how hunger creates family tension.

“When I told my mother that I won’t be in line today, she said to me, ‘What are we going to eat? I have to come here. I kept thinking that if I don’t come we won’t find anything to eat. I have my own room, there is a living room and I used to receive guests.

After collecting his rice, Lamees returned home, passing the line of adults and children who had arrived at the kitchen. He was muttering to himself as he disappeared into the morning crowd.

Back in Amman, they prepared more aid for shipment to Gaza. Jordan’s Hashemite Charitable Organization said it could load 150 trucks a day for Gaza if granted. There is no shortage of desire. Aid agencies, the United Nations and other groups are ready. They – all – are waiting for the opening of Gaza to help, and peace.

Additional reporting by Alice Doyard, Suha Kawar and Moose Campbell