A married teenage couple in Gaza

Ahmed, 15, and Tamara, 14, live with his parents in Beit Lahiya in northern Gaza city. Ahmed was in love with Tamara and found her cute, that is why he asked her on his 15th birthday if she would marry him. In the fall of 2013 they married. Since then they are trying to get pregnant as it is their parents wish. Around 780.000 children are living in Gaza. More than half the population is younger than 18 years.

Many people in Gaza are poor and without work. Since their wedding the families have debt. The celebration has cost 700 shekel and they had to pay 200 shekels for borrowing Tamara’s dress. Ahmed’s father sits on the floor during the day and smokes. Since Ahmed was eleven years old he no longer goes to school in order to support the family financially. He collects stones at the border and sells them. In the evening he gives his father 10-20 shekels, which is less than five euro. Tamara does the laundry every day, as well as cooking and sweeping.

Eight months have passed, their parents and Ahmed are surprised that Tamara is not yet pregnant. They want Tamara to go to the doctor for a check up. While Tamara is sitting in the waiting room, the doctor delivers a baby from a 35 year old woman. It is the womans tenth child.

After the doctor made an ultrasonic scan he confirmed that Tamara is healthy. Ahmed parents are getting impatient and also send him to the doctor for a check up. The doctor tells him to eat honey and drink plenty of milk. And he should be older to get children. As Ahmed is only a child himself and not fully developed it is difficult for him to make Tamara pregnant. It puts Ahmed under pressure. His love is getting less. He started to fight with Tamara every day.