After enduring 15 months of relentless violence, devastation, and loss of life, the people of the Gaza Strip finally saw a glimmer of hope with the ceasefire that came into effect on January 19, 2025. Among those returning to the remnants of their homes in northern Gaza were UN Volunteer Asmaa Ma'rouf and her children. Asmaa documented her journey back home, sharing her reflections along the way. The ceasefire was still in effect at that time.
"After months of uncertainty, of longing for home, today is the day I return. This journey has been filled with challenges, resilience, and hope. Each step back home brings a flood of memories—some painful, some warm.
Displacement is more than just leaving a place; it’s leaving behind a part of yourself. The streets feel familiar yet different, carrying the weight of what was lost and the promise of what can be rebuilt.
Standing here now, I feel a mix of relief and sorrow—so much has changed. My home is still standing, but my room, once my personal refuge, has been destroyed. Yet, home is not just walls and streets; it’s the people, the spirit, and the memories that endure despite everything.
Displacement was not easy for me, nor for my children. They longed for their rooms, their toys, their books—pieces of their childhood that felt frozen in time, waiting for them to return.
No matter where I went, I always carried my house key with me—both in my hands and in my heart—holding onto the hope of return. Despite the destruction, despite the loss, we find ways to rebuild, to smile, to move forward. This is more than just my return—it’s a reminder that home is where hope begins."
Asmaa Ma'rouf is a UN Volunteer Geographic Information Systems Specialist with the Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People (PAPP) of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Two months later, the ceasefire was abruptly called off, plunging Gaza into renewed bombardment that claimed hundreds of lives and caused widespread destruction, according to UN reports. On 19 March, one UN personnel was killed and others injured as part of the bombing. The collapse of the ceasefire occurred amidst an already deteriorating humanitarian situation, with crossings into the Strip closed for over two weeks, halting the delivery of much-needed aid.
Presently there are 23 UN Volunteers in Gaza, all accounted for while this story is being written.
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Please click below to watch the journey of Asmaa Ma'rouf as she returned to her home in Gaza.