Notes from the Field | In Gaza, Existence Is Awful

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In Gaza, Existence Is Awful

Posted by: CARE on January 13, 2009 at 5:44PM EST

GAZA (January 6, 2009) - Today I had no other choice but to knock down a door in our apartment, to break it up and use it to make a fire and cook. I've knocked down three so far. I live in Al Touffah, about six kilometres from the sea. The markets are empty and there's no cooking gas, so I had no alternative.

I live with my mother, but when the fighting started, displaced relatives moved in. Then it got so bad that all the relatives, 42 of us – mothers, fathers, uncles, aunts, grandmothers and children – all moved to another house belonging to my cousin so we could be together. We are so cramped and on top of each other.

I am angry, sad and depressed. This existence is awful. Do we have to destroy our own homes to survive? Is this the only way we are allowed to live? After 18 months of being under siege is this what it has come to?

We are just an ordinary family. There's such little employment in Gaza, so I'm very lucky to have a job looking after the CARE offices. I have gone about my duty and looked after my family. We've had no running water since the Israeli bombs started to fall 10 days ago. We haven't been able to sit down and relax. We've had no sleep, the noise has been terrible and the windows have been open. We feel cold and exposed. My last wish if I should die in the coming days is to have a shower and a decent meal.

Hamdallah Abu Daghen is 26 years old and an employee of CARE International in Gaza. This morning he described the situation in which he and his family are living in after 10 days of conflict. Hamdallah lives in Al Touffah, one of the oldest and most densely populated areas of the Gaza strip.

CARE has unique access to first-hand information from Gaza and the West Bank, where our work includes programs in health, economic development, water and sanitation. We began providing aid in Israel and the Palestinian territories in 1949, concluding our programming in Israel in 1984 as the Israeli government improved its own capacity to address poverty.

Send This | Categories: CARE, Emergency, Relief

(1) Comments

Posted by: Dina Shalabi on November 16, 2009 8:06AM EST

Greetings Hamdallah,

I was wondering if you have recent updates on the sitatuion in Gaza. It gives it such an authentic feeling to have reports from individuals currently living in that area, like yourself. I'm specifcially interested in updates on schooling and how the kids and teachers are coping and managing to learn.

Thank you,

Dina