Trying to Breathe in Rafah
26 July 2006
The story of the Tahsin family, trying to cope in the midst of the conflict in the Gaza strip.
All the carpentry equipment at Abu Tahsin’s workshop in southern Gaza lies silent. For the Tahsin family, who lives in Rafah, the recent power failures caused by Israeli military action have been critical. Abu Tahsin and his wife Najah rely on their carpentry workshop to make a living for themselves and their seven children, the youngest of whom is seven months.
Lack of electricity
Since Gaza's sole power plant was hit by an Israeli military attack in early July, thousands of families have been struggling.
But Abu Tahsin says it is almost impossible to keep up with his work schedule in these difficult days. He has to use electric tools for his work, so he has barely been able to work for the last month. Electricity supply is erratic, and frequent cuts have become normal for the people of Gaza. Sometimes the electricity comes on during the day; other times in the middle of the night.
For Abu Tahsin and his family, the damage to their carpentry business will put them on a tight budget with less money to spend on essential food and health care. Since Gaza’s sole power plant was hit by an Israeli military attack in early July, thousands of other families have also been struggling. The lack of electricity has closed down several sewage treatment systems. Water often can’t be pumped up to apartment blocks, and the health service is under extreme stress as providers try to treat people without stable power supplies.
Elderly people are suffering
Behind the carpentry workshop is a large building, divided into three flats where the extended family lives. The grandparents of the household live on the ground floor next to the garden. The Haji (the grandfather) is not well. Because of his serious asthma, he is supported by a respiratory machine, which is supposed to work all day. Now it only gets sporadic electricity for six hours a day with no fixed schedule. His family has gotten him oxygen, but he is very tired and depressed. He spends the day trying to breathe.
25 August 2006
