“PEACE, peace, that is all we desire,” Gazan Rosary Sister Nabila Saleh says as she seeks refuge alongside 700 Christians at the Holy Family Parish in Gaza.
“There is so much darkness, so much agony,” she said in a recent phone call with Aid to the Church in Need.
“It is heart-wrenching.
“At this moment, our solace lies solely with God.”
Sister Saleh had sheltered with about 100 children within the parish complex and said they have been deeply traumatised by the fighting.
These children have tragically known nothing but the horrors of war throughout their lives.
“All we yearn for is peace, peace,” she said.
“Gaza has endured six wars, and these children have only known conflict.”
Despite the dire circumstances, Sister Saleh remains resolute in her belief that “staying active and extending a helping hand to others is the most effective way to cope with the devastation”.
The Holy Family Parish has been tirelessly offering aid and shelter to wounded and displaced Christians affected by the ongoing violence over the past two weeks, many of whom have lost their homes.
Sister Saleh, along with six other religious sisters and a Catholic priest, have been working relentlessly to support the community during these trying times.
The situation in Gaza remains deeply concerning.
The Holy Family parish is currently without electricity or running water.
They are now reliant on well water for drinking, although they fear it may run dry at any moment.
The price of mineral water, which they purchase, has tripled due to the crisis.
The recent reopening of the border with Egypt has brought a glimmer of hope for aid, but Sister Saleh and the Christian community are uncertain if the much-needed assistance will reach the northern region where they are located.
According to the Ministry of Health in Gaza, the recent aid deliveries, consisting of approximately 20 trucks per day, are but a drop in the ocean.
This falls far short of the 500 trucks daily urgently needed to address the severe shortage of essential medical supplies.
The sisters and their dedicated staff are doing everything within their power to ensure that each individual receives the urgent assistance they require.
Resources are scarce and the situation is deteriorating daily, particularly after refugees sought shelter in the parish following an explosion at the Greek Orthodox compound, which killed 18 people.
At present, there are nearly 700 faithful in the parish, including 100 children, 50 individuals with disabilities, and some who were injured in the Greek Orthodox compound and are receiving medical care.
Among the casualties of the Greek Orthodox compound bombing is a teacher from Sister Saleh’s school, along with her entire family and other children who had been attending the parish’s religious instruction.
The faithful gather for Holy Mass twice a day, continually reciting the Rosary, seeking solace and peace through the intercession of the Virgin Mary and the Almighty.
In a united statement, the Patriarchs and Church leaders in Jerusalem underscore the unwavering commitment of the churches “to fulfil our sacred and moral obligation of providing aid, support, and refuge to the civilians who turn to us in their dire need”.
Despite military pressures to evacuate charitable institutions and places of worship, the churches have remained steadfast: “We will not forsake this Christian mission, for there is truly no other safe haven for these innocents”.
