{"id":6253,"date":"2015-02-25T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2015-02-25T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cnewa.org\/ca\/2015\/02\/25\/gaza-situation-updatevisit-10-12-february-2015\/"},"modified":"2026-04-10T15:46:19","modified_gmt":"2026-04-10T19:46:19","slug":"gaza-situation-updatevisit-10-12-february-2015","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cnewa.org\/ca\/gaza-situation-updatevisit-10-12-february-2015\/","title":{"rendered":"Gaza Situation UpdateVisit 10-12 February 2015"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Sami El-Yousef<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Introduction:<\/strong>
During this visit, we were accompanied by a senior level group from
Misereor, the aid agency of the Catholic Church in Germany, which has partnered with us and our colleague, Mr. Joseph Hazboun. This was his first time to the Gaza
Strip. We wanted to introduce our friends at Misereor to the institutions and people they have
supported for many years so that they have an honest hands-on account of the real Gaza and its
desperate situation. We also wanted to monitor and evaluate CNEWA\/Pontifical Mission of Palestine\u2019s ongoing projects, many
of which are related to the emergency intervention as well as discuss with our various partners
current and future needs. Finally, we hoped our presence in Gaza demonstrates our commitment to
helping the people of Gaza where many continue to feel abandoned and are losing hope. I am very
happy to report that the visit was a great success in meeting all its goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Visit with Misereor to NECC, Al-Ahli Arab Hospital, Rosary Sisters School and Shija\u2019ia neighborhood:<\/strong>
After the Erez clearance, we made quick visit to the Near
East Council of Churches (NECC) Clinic in Shija\u2019ia to observe a psychosocial session in progress. We were told that some of the women \u2014 whom lived in the destroyed neighborhood, had lost their loved ones or lost their homes and are now homeless, live with either family members or in makeshift \u2018school shelters\u2019 which are still open. It was amazing to see how these mothers are so resilient despite their enormous loss and have the courage to speak with our guests. A common message that was said: \u201cDespite what you hear about us, we love life \u2014 we want to live in peace \u2014
enough is enough \u2014 help stop the wars \u2014 tell our story to the world \u2014 and thank you for being with us\u201d. Powerful messages
that truly touched our hearts!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We also headed to the NECC\u2019s Vocational Training Center
where a carpentry, blacksmithing and aluminum training
workshops were already in session; over 100 young students
were in class learning about the trade. If a serious
reconstruction effort was launched to rebuild the roughly
100,000 structures destroyed by three wars in the past five
years, these students will be immediately employed.
However, the unfortunate continuation of the \u2018status quo\u2019 for
Gaza, meaning that its economy will continue to be
underdeveloped and youth will join the thousands upon
thousands of unemployed people in the Gaza Strip who
cannot find work. It must be very difficult for them not
knowing what the future holds yet their spirits were high and could still joke and laugh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thereafter, we met with Ms. Suhaila Tarazi, director of
the Al- Ahli Arab Hospital to inform us on the
Misereor-funded psychosocial program. We met with
some of the participants \u2014 mainly women who come
from various locations throughout the Gaza Strip. Their
message was very similar to that of the women at the
NECC clinic. Interestingly, there was a small exhibit of
the drawings made by the women\u2019s children who also
attended the children\u2019s psychosocial sessions. Most of
the drawings were particularly depressing with
depictions of destruction, missiles and military planes,
people weeping, the use of dark colors and other
negative images of war. Certainly the ugliness of war in
a child\u2019s eyes was reflected through those drawings.
Yet, it was uplifting throughout our visit at the hospital
to hear the message of appreciation and financial
support for the patients of Al-Ahli Arab Hospital. Ms.
Tarazi went to great lengths to thank Misereor and all of
CNEWA\/PMP\u2019s partner donors for their outstanding
generosity to procure much needed medicines, medical
supplies, fuel and medical coverage for the needy.
Without the funds, the hospital would have simply shutdown
and surely patients would have lost their lives.
Ms. Tarazi stressed that these contributions made a
substantial difference especially during an active war.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Next on our itinerary was the Rosary Sisters School to
inspect the rehabilitation work to the school grounds
completed after the war and enabled the school to open
in time for the 2014-2015 academic school year but also
visit the 9th<\/sup> and 10th<\/sup> grade classes whom we visited
previously. For those of you who have not seen this 7
minute encounter of the 9th grade students, please take
time to watch it through the following link:
https:\/\/cnewa.org\/magazine\/video-children-in-gaza-cope-with-war-33770\/<\/u><\/a>. It was
touching to meet the students again and listen to their
stories. Most touching was their appreciation for our
support and solidarity which was very much
appreciated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The last place we visited for the day was the Shija\u2019ia
neighborhood which sustained large scale destruction,
especially the two completely destroyed buildings of
the Wafa Hospital. The scenes were beyond
imagination! Not only was the hospital completely
destroyed, but also the entire neighborhood surrounding
it. We met some of the neighborhood residents who are
still living in the remnants of their destroyed homes
even in the middle of winter. In fact, we were in the
midst of a sand storm which had some of the worst
pollution levels in five years. The residents who we
spoke with were very angry with many issues: the two
political factions, Fatah and Hamas, for doing nothing
to ease their suffering and for the lack of progress to
reconcile; at UNRWA for not doing enough to help
reconstruct; and at the international community for not
denouncing war for the people of Gaza; and at Israel for
destroying life in Gaza. Yet despite all the suffering and anger, there was a clear message of
resilience and faith. They always concluded with a simple phrase \u201cthis is our destiny and we have to
thank God for everything!!!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As we concluded our visits with Misereor for the day, I felt very blessed to have had the chance to
accompany the Misereor delegation and listen to the spiritual message of Misereor\u2019s President Msgr.
Pirmin Spiegel. Words cannot express our deepest appreciation from this humble priest who truly
inspired those we met to keep their faith and hope alive!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Progress of the Emergency\u2019s Psychosocial Intervention:<\/strong>
After bidding farewell to our partners from Misereor, we started
the second day with visits to other psychosocial
programs. Throughout our visits to the psychosocial
sessions, the sight of children enjoying the activities
and having fun was most refreshing to see.<\/p>\n\n\n\n