Iman al-Masry is simply exhausted after giving birth to quadruplets at a hospital in southern Gaza, miles from her home in the north of the war-torn Palestinian territory.

In mid-October, days after the Israel-Hamas war began, the young woman fled her family home in Beit Hanoon on foot with her three other children to seek safety.

They walked five kilometers (three miles) to the Jabalia refugee camplooking for a means of transport that would take them to Deir el-Balah further south.

Iman was six months pregnant and “the distance was too great,” she said.

“It affected my pregnancy,” added the 28-year-old mother, who gave birth to daughters Tia and Lynn and sons Yasser and Mohammed via C-section on December 18.

But Iman was quickly asked to leave the hospital with the newborns – without Mohammed, who was too frail to walk with them – to make room for others Patients of war.

Now they, Tia, Lynn and Yasser live with around 50 other members of their extended family in a cramped schoolroom in Deir el-Balah that has been converted into accommodation.

“Mohammed only weighs one kilogram [2.2 pounds]. He cannot survive,” she said of the child she left behind in a hospital in Nuseirat refugee camp.

Lying on a foam mattress in a schoolroom that serves as accommodation for her and her extended family, Iman recounts her journey from hell.

“When I left the house I only had summer clothes for the children. I thought the war would last a week or two and we would return home afterward,” she said.

More than 11 weeks later, her hope of ever returning has been dashed.

The Gaza Strip, home to 2.4 million people, is in ruins from North to south. According to UN estimates, fighting has increased offset 1.9 million Palestinians internally.

The conflict erupted when Hamas gunmen attacked southern Israel, leaving about 1,139 people dead.

Palestinian fighters also took around 250 hostages, including 129 remain in captivitysays Israel.

Israel responded with a relentless bombardment and siege of Gaza, followed by a ground invasion beginning October 27.

According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, at least 21,110 people have been killed in the campaign, about two-thirds of them women Children.

‘Helpless’

Like other mothers, Iman had hoped to follow tradition and celebrate the birth of her babies by “dousing them with rose water,” she said.

But 10 days later, “we couldn’t even bathe her,” she said, because it was difficult to find her clean water in the devastated area, where there is a dire shortage of basic goods, including milk, medicine and hygiene items such as diapers.

“Normally I would change babies’ diapers every two hours. But the situation is difficult and I have to be frugal,” she said, adding that the newborns only get a fresh diaper in the morning and evening.

Her husband Ammar al-Masry, 33, said he was devastated because he could not provide for his family.

“I feel helpless,” he said, surrounded by his six children in the smelly classroom.

“I am afraid for my children. I don’t know how to protect them,” he said, adding that he spends most of his day outside foraging.

“Tia [who has jaundice] needs to be breastfed and my wife needs nutritious food that contains protein. The children need milk and diapers. But I can’t get any of that.”