Imad and his family have been forced to leave their home three times since Israel’s campaign of violence in Gaza. Today, 17 people shelter in his house — his wife, seven children, two sisters and their families — after his sisters’ homes in Gaza City were destroyed.
Imad is a farmer. His tomato greenhouses in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza once provided for his family and community. A displacement camp now sits next to his farm. For Imad, it’s a daily reminder of how life in Gaza has been turned upside down.
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Farming against the odds
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I rely on my greenhouse as a source of income for myself and my family. I spend long hours here to maintain a good harvest and sell the tomatoes in the local market.
But water is scarce and fuel prices have soared.
‘It’s difficult to get water to irrigate the crops,’ Imad explained. ‘I buy diesel at a high price to operate the generator that pumps water from underground wells. I dream of having solar energy to obtain water at a lower cost. This would also help reduce vegetable prices in the market.’
The crisis that surrounds the farm
Last month (August 2025), the UN declared famine in Gaza for the first time. More than half the population are on the brink of starvation. Families describe loved ones fainting from exhaustion, children’s hair falling out in clumps from malnutrition, and the daily fear of not knowing where the next meal will come from.
The prices of basic goods have skyrocketed. Tomatoes that once sustained families are sold at prices far out of reach. Out of desperation, people have stolen from Imad’s farm — a stark reminder of the hunger gripping the community.
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Even his nine-year-old son, Mohammed, carries the weight of the crisis. He misses school and sitting in his classroom. He worries about his classmates, many of whom he’s not seen since the war began. Yet he also shares his father’s love of farming:
‘I want to be a doctor when I grow up,’ he shared, ‘but I also love fresh tomatoes, especially when they are picked by hand.’
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More than aid
Christian Aid’s partner, the Palestinian Agricultural Relief Committee (PARC), has been supporting farmers like Imad by providing fertiliser to strengthen their crops. This has helped Imad harvest high-quality tomatoes, despite the challenges.
When our story researchers spent the day with him, they described how it felt to return to an agricultural project in Gaza – a precious moment of nostalgia and even joy despite the horrors around them. Eating fresh tomatoes with Imad was something they have not been able to afford for a long time.
Their reflections remind us that the work of our partners, made possible by your support, preserves livelihoods, dignity and resilience. It’s giving people the chance to endure and rebuild in the face of man-made famine.
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