Rebuilding from the rubble

Rebuilding from the rubble

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Life is a struggle to get by for Jihan Abu Muhsen, 48, who gathers bricks from the sites of demolished buildings and sells them to recycling factories.

She earns around 20 shekels ($5) a day and her 10-year-old son Mohammad helps her when he is not at school.

. Khan Younis, Palestinian Territories. Reuters/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa

"It is too hard for me, it is a job for men but I have no choice," Abu Muhsen said.

Her husband has been unemployed since losing his job as a street seller.

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Slideshow

Dwellings stand in a slum area where Abu Muhsen lives.
. Khan Younis, Palestinian Territories. Reuters/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa

Dwellings stand in a slum area where Abu Muhsen lives.

Abu Muhsen watches TV.
. Khan Younis, Palestinian Territories. Reuters/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa

Abu Muhsen watches TV.

Abu Muhsen makes tea by a fire.
. Khan Younis, Palestinian Territories. Reuters/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa

Abu Muhsen makes tea by a fire.

Abu Muhsen holds her son Kareem.
. Khan Younis, Palestinian Territories. Reuters/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa

Abu Muhsen holds her son Kareem.

Abu Muhsen shakes hands with her neighbour.
. Khan Younis, Palestinian Territories. Reuters/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa

Abu Muhsen shakes hands with her neighbour.

Abu Muhsen poses for a photograph.
. Khan Younis, Palestinian Territories. Reuters/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa

Abu Muhsen poses for a photograph.

Abu Muhsen rides her donkey-drawn cart.
. Khan Younis, Palestinian Territories. Reuters/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa

Abu Muhsen rides her donkey-drawn cart.

Abu Muhsen collects bricks.
. Khan Younis, Palestinian Territories. Reuters/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa

Abu Muhsen collects bricks.

Abu Muhsen collects bricks with her son Mohammad from the ruins of a house destroyed during 2014 war.
. Khan Younis, Palestinian Territories. Reuters/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa

Abu Muhsen collects bricks with her son Mohammad from the ruins of a house destroyed during 2014 war.

Abu Muhsen collects bricks from the site of a house destroyed during 2014 war.
. Khan Younis, Palestinian Territories. Reuters/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa

Abu Muhsen collects bricks from the site of a house destroyed during 2014 war.

Abu Muhsen collects bricks with her son Mohammad.
. Khan Younis, Palestinian Territories. Reuters/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa

Abu Muhsen collects bricks with her son Mohammad.

Abu Muhsen unloads bricks to traders.
. Khan Younis, Palestinian Territories. Reuters/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa

Abu Muhsen unloads bricks to traders.

Abu Muhsen rides her donkey-drawn cart with her son Mohammad as they return home.
. Khan Younis, Palestinian Territories. Reuters/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa

Abu Muhsen rides her donkey-drawn cart with her son Mohammad as they return home.