IR aid-worker diary, as featured on the BBC
15 January 2009
Over 1,000 Palestinians have been killed since the conflict began
I'm stuck in my house - things are very difficult today as the tanks are in the neighbouring area to where I live and where my colleagues have family. My colleague is writing my words down as I’m unable to get to the office and use my computer.
Many people have left the area and are moving in with relatives deeper in Gaza City. When I look out of the window I can see people leaving with small bags – many of those leaving are with their families. There are many women and children.
A few metres away I hear a loud explosion. The shelling is becoming more intense and rockets are also falling. I can see smoke from a building that is behind my house. The UNRWA building is close to where I am and my colleague has told me that the building has been hit. Shelling is going on. Sounds of explosions are shaking the house. The family is gathered in one room so we can make sure that everyone is OK. My mother shouts out to make sure that we are all with her in the room. My sister-in-laws are with us and the children and we crouch down on the ground in case the glass from the windows shatters and hits us. I can hear the neighbour’s children crying and shouting. My sister called earlier and said she will try and make it to our home. She has three young daughters and a son and we don’t think she will make it as it’s not safe for her to travel. Some family friends are now on the way to a UN shelter - they wanted to come and stay with us but it was simply too dangerous for them to make their way here. I can see thick black smoke covering the sky and the smoke is getting thicker and blocking the sun. The fighting is becoming closer to our homes and the soldiers are now in urban areas. What scares me is that that our homes could come under attack and there will be more death and destruction.
I was supposed to be out distributing aid to hospitals around Gaza with Islamic Relief’s emergency relief team today. Yesterday we managed to deliver hospital trolleys, heart machines, and first aid equipment including bandages, disposable gloves and syringes to five hospitals around Gaza. We were supposed to be delivering more aid today but our aid work has been suspended due to the intensity of the attacks in the centre of Gaza. Aid is coming into Gaza through Israel and Egypt but people can't collect the food and medicines they need as it’s not safe for them to leave their homes. A few days ago Islamic Relief was able to receive 20 ambulances through the Rafah border which will be donated to the main Shifa Hospital and others smaller hospitals.
Today is the twentieth day of the attack - every day we hope that this will be the last day - but the attacks keep going on and people feel depressed and scared. Gazans feel that this won’t end anytime soon. When I meet people I find that they have almost become indifferent to death as we know death is not far away. In the past 20 days over 1,000 people have been killed, many of them women and children. Death has become close to the average Gazan.
My colleague is asking me how I’m coping with the situation and how I overcome my fear. I take a deep breathe and try and explain as best I can. During the day when I’m out working with the Islamic Relief team I stay strong and never show the exhaustion or the fear. I’m there to help people who in many cases have nothing. When I get home I try and stay strong for my family especially my nieces and nephews who are very young and frightened. At night when I read the evening prayer I can’t control myself and I cry and cry all night. In the morning I leap up and force myself to shake all the despair and hurt and get ready to go out and try and help the people of Gaza.
26 June 2009 26 June 2009 25 June 2009 25 June 2009 17 April 2009 01 April 2009 24 February 2009 11 February 2009 06 February 2009 06 February 2009 05 February 2009 04 February 2009 02 February 2009 29 January 2009 27 January 2009 26 January 2009 26 January 2009 23 January 2009 19 January 2009 19 January 2009 14 January 2009 13 January 2009 12 January 2009 09 January 2009 08 January 2009 07 January 2009 07 January 2009 07 January 2009 05 January 2009 05 January 2009 03 January 2009 02 January 2009 02 January 2009 31 December 2008 31 December 2008 30 December 2008 29 December 2008 27 December 2008 07 February 2008
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