Hoping for Market Flourish: Gaza Is Radiant with Its Fasting People … In spite of Many Troubles
Gaza - Alintiqad
Unlike the past few years, the Gaza Strip has appeared more brilliant than ever, welcoming the blessed Month of Ramadan; whereby the Strip has been a main center for the Palestinian's increasing suffering upon the "Israeli" siege. Well, the reason beyond this is the Gazans' belief in their right and their determination to maintain their lives - even with the least aspects, "Abu Muhammad" points out.
"Abu Muhammad", a food-shop keeper in Az-Zawiya Market in downtown Gaza says, "In spite of the ongoing siege, this year is very different from the years before, and there exist hopes for markets flourish, whereby the citizens can find big amounts of various goods brought through the tunnels, and they can get any of these goods since their prices are cheap; in particular, the special foods for the Month of Ramadan as halvah, jams, cheeses, kinds of juice, and others."
In fact, the Egyptian goods are quite important for the humble Gazans upon the sales on these goods and their often discounted prices in public occasions and ids. However, the instability of the government employees' salaries still affects thousands of families.
A Future Concern
"Abu Ramez", a high-school teacher says to "Alintiqad": "Our situations are truly difficult, for the delay in paying last month's salaries brought very hard times to the employees and their families, that some of them could barely provide the least amount of the goods and requirements of the Month of Ramadan."
While speaking, "Abu Ramez", who makes a living for a six-member family, does not hide his fear - as well as the other employees' - concerning the future of the salaries in spite of the promises made by the Prime Minister in Ramallah, Salam Fayyad, on the basis of the pledges he got from the delegates of the Arab countries during their recent, urgent meeting in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, after the Palestinian Authority had requested that.
Data issued by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) states that in spite of the "encouraging" developments in Gaza, the economic and human situations are very dark.
According to this data, 80% of Gaza's people depend on the aids offered by international organizations and committees. Besides, they can't afford to buy the goods present in the markets.
UNRWA emphasizes the necessity of reviving the Palestinian economy in the Gaza Strip and of getting out of the "limitedness" of the construction projects, which has been licensed by "Israel" throughout different stages.
A Persistent Nightmare
Not far from this bitter reality, the people of the Strip still suffer the strong crisis of electricity; ever since the siege on Gaza was imposed (more than four years and a half), they've had to dine or have their early pre-fast meal in candlelight or the like.
"Om Hussam" says: "I can no longer tolerate the special emergency program for electricity; on the first day of the Month of Ramadan, the electricity went off for more than 14 hours starting after midnight until noon on the next day."
A citizen of Gaza City, "Om Hussam" points out that the electricity crisis has
become intolerable as the temperature continues to rise sharply. This makes it more laborious for the fasting citizens; yet, she realizes that their only consolation is God's recompense, in addition to the hope of a future with no troubles.
Earlier, the Head of the Energy and Natural Resources Authority in Gaza, Engineer Canaan Obeid, declared operating the third generator in the main electric station all through the Month of Ramadan and summer.
As he spoke, Obeid mentioned that the fuel quantities entered by the Occupation to the power plant are of little quantities and are insufficient for operating all units and generators; this results in electric disability.
Unlike the past few years, the Gaza Strip has appeared more brilliant than ever, welcoming the blessed Month of Ramadan; whereby the Strip has been a main center for the Palestinian's increasing suffering upon the "Israeli" siege. Well, the reason beyond this is the Gazans' belief in their right and their determination to maintain their lives - even with the least aspects, "Abu Muhammad" points out.
"Abu Muhammad", a food-shop keeper in Az-Zawiya Market in downtown Gaza says, "In spite of the ongoing siege, this year is very different from the years before, and there exist hopes for markets flourish, whereby the citizens can find big amounts of various goods brought through the tunnels, and they can get any of these goods since their prices are cheap; in particular, the special foods for the Month of Ramadan as halvah, jams, cheeses, kinds of juice, and others."
In fact, the Egyptian goods are quite important for the humble Gazans upon the sales on these goods and their often discounted prices in public occasions and ids. However, the instability of the government employees' salaries still affects thousands of families.
A Future Concern
"Abu Ramez", a high-school teacher says to "Alintiqad": "Our situations are truly difficult, for the delay in paying last month's salaries brought very hard times to the employees and their families, that some of them could barely provide the least amount of the goods and requirements of the Month of Ramadan."
While speaking, "Abu Ramez", who makes a living for a six-member family, does not hide his fear - as well as the other employees' - concerning the future of the salaries in spite of the promises made by the Prime Minister in Ramallah, Salam Fayyad, on the basis of the pledges he got from the delegates of the Arab countries during their recent, urgent meeting in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, after the Palestinian Authority had requested that.
Data issued by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) states that in spite of the "encouraging" developments in Gaza, the economic and human situations are very dark.
According to this data, 80% of Gaza's people depend on the aids offered by international organizations and committees. Besides, they can't afford to buy the goods present in the markets.
UNRWA emphasizes the necessity of reviving the Palestinian economy in the Gaza Strip and of getting out of the "limitedness" of the construction projects, which has been licensed by "Israel" throughout different stages.
A Persistent Nightmare
Not far from this bitter reality, the people of the Strip still suffer the strong crisis of electricity; ever since the siege on Gaza was imposed (more than four years and a half), they've had to dine or have their early pre-fast meal in candlelight or the like.
"Om Hussam" says: "I can no longer tolerate the special emergency program for electricity; on the first day of the Month of Ramadan, the electricity went off for more than 14 hours starting after midnight until noon on the next day."
A citizen of Gaza City, "Om Hussam" points out that the electricity crisis has
become intolerable as the temperature continues to rise sharply. This makes it more laborious for the fasting citizens; yet, she realizes that their only consolation is God's recompense, in addition to the hope of a future with no troubles. Earlier, the Head of the Energy and Natural Resources Authority in Gaza, Engineer Canaan Obeid, declared operating the third generator in the main electric station all through the Month of Ramadan and summer.
As he spoke, Obeid mentioned that the fuel quantities entered by the Occupation to the power plant are of little quantities and are insufficient for operating all units and generators; this results in electric disability.
