'Trapped in hell' - CARE's Marwa El-Ansary on the humanitarian disaster in Gaza

3 August 2006 “It’s clear from talking to colleagues here that the situation in Gaza is a humanitarian disaster. Recently as a result of the increase in the conflict, there have been no services operating there. Water supplies are all on back-up generators because the main power stations were hit in the recent incursions.  That means there is electricity only for a couple of hours a day and very little water in people’s homes. In addition, public services have declined. There’s no rubbish collection, for example.

“Now Gaza covers a very small area of land and at this time of the year it’s extremely hot. This, coupled with very low medical supplies and equipment, means it is a fertile ground for health problems. It really has become ‘hell’  for the people living there who are also trapped as there are severe border restrictions on movement in and out of Gaza.

“We’ve been providing clean water and sanitation facilities in Gaza and supporting local health services for some time now, using emergency funding from the European Commission. Because of the recent conflict, we’ve had to introduce a new component to our work, getting fresh food like vegetables to people in Gaza because they're really scarce.

“Most of my time spent here has been focused on discussing potential ways we can increase the humanitarian efforts for Gaza with donors and other UN and agencies.  Also with all that’s happening in Lebanon, the limelight rarely focuses on how bad the situation has really become in Gaza so CARE has also been publishing statements urging the international community to take notice of this unfolding crisis.

“It’s also been really apparent to me that in the region as a whole, people are feeling extremely frustrated and demoralised. For example, many people in Lebanon and the West Bank have dual nationality and had come back to settle here in the past 10 years or so. Most of those people have now fled, often leaving behind friends and family who feel helpless. Morale is very low. The situation is very depressing.

“During the week I’ve been here, I’ve been based in East Jerusalem – it’s not been possible to travel to Gaza. In fact, throughout the years of conflict, Jerusalem has been quite isolated. ‘Jerusalemites’ is the identity of people here. Walking the streets of Jerusalem, you get a false sense of security, as it’s relatively quiet here. Then you talk to people and your perception changes.

“Beneath the surface, the situation is very difficult for Palestinians living here. One example is the permit system which is highly complicated. Palestinians living in Jerusalem hold Jerusalem ID, and easily travel to the West Bank but they are not allowed to hold Palestinian passports. On the other hand, Palestinians living in the West Bank who have a Palestinian passport find it very difficult to go to Jerusalem and have to apply for special permit to do so. Even car plates are colour coded between Jerusalem and the West Bank!

"All this makes travel very difficult and can make people’s lives quite unbearable – including our colleagues here in the country office. It can be very difficult to see their families, for example, or to get the services they need.

“This is my third visit here. Every time I come it is a real eye-opening experience. I am well aware of the problems but, when I am here, the reality of the situation always hits me in the face. I am leaving tomorrow feeling that I wish I could do more but also knowing that our colleagues in the country office are doing as much as possible to help – even if we all know that much more needs to be done.”