Gaza Emergency Relief Fund

In our last report, we told you about two homes in progress. We're happy to tell you that those two homes are now complete! Both the Al Amour and Al Hashash families are now living in improved homes with new roofs, windows, doors, and more. It was urgent to finish because they had told Al Amal Society, our local NGO partner, that they suffered every winter from cold rain flooding into their homes. Project cost: $5,000 per family. Total spent: $10,000.

The Al Amour family has three disabled sons who are students at a school run by Al Amal Society. Their old home was a one-bedroom with just one bathroom, a small space for some plants, and a kitchen with no refrigerator or stove. Part of the solution for their new home was providing privacy for the mother as formerly the bedroom was the only place she wasn't in full view of her neighbors. The engineer not only added a new room but provided an outside garden wall between the Al Amours' home and the neighbors.

The mother said, "Now I can move freely in my house. Now I can wear whatever I like. I used to put full clothes on me and even cover my hair all the time to go from my room to the kitchen or to the bathroom.”

Besides having a new bathroom and kitchen with appliances, part of the project's goal was to help them get back on their feet. The family's request was granted for new chickens to raise as a source of income and food. 

The Al Hashash family is a single-mother household with six sons and two daughters. Three of the children are deaf. The mother lived in fear because the house was not a safe environment for her children. The house had broken doors, windows, and tiles, and the walls were rotted. Now, the kitchen and bathroom are much improved. All broken elements were replaced. Two new rooms were added. A new electric system was also installed throughout. 

Four more families: Another local NGO partner, Al Basma Club for the Disabled, also received a grant to renovate the homes of four families. One family did not even have basic supplies like blankets and chairs. Now that renovations and distibution are complete, their lives are much improved. We look forward to going more into detail about them in the next report. 

In light of active COVID cases increasing in the Gaza Strip, it's important that Gaza families can shelter-in-place safely. Your support made it possible for these six families. Last year's December disbursement was three times more than the month before! Thank you so much!

Our Gaza Emergency Relief Fund has been working to help four families get through significant hardship. We've been working with three Palestinian partner NGO's to fix houses and build a path to sustainable income for each family. Below, each partner is listed before the family they are supporting.

(Women Programs Center-Rafah) The Abu Suhiban family in the Oriba area of Rafah, Gaza has 7 children. The mother is allergic to gluten so besides barely being able to afford food in general, it's hard for them to buy the special bread that keeps her healthy. They have no kitchen, an inadequate bathroom, and no roof. They suffer during the winter season when their house floods during the rains. They only had a nylon tarp for extra protection. In addition to completing their home, the grant will also include appliances, a food basket, and clothing. Their barn will also be fixed so they can raise animals for extra food, and their animals will be safe from rats and other pests. 

(Al Amal Society) The Al-Omour family in the Al-Shouka area has 5 children. Their new house will have a new bathroom, kitchen, and an extra room. They did not have doors or windows so their home was exposed to the elements and animals. Their new home will be much more safe and private. Both the Al Amour and Abu Subihan family will have a new electrical and plumbing system.

(Al Amal Society) A third family, also in Al-Shouka, is nearly ready, but we're waiting until the construction group finishes with the Al-Omour family. Work was slowed down previously. On August 25th, a stay-at-home curfew was put in place in Gaza because cases of COVID beyond quarantine centers into Gaza's neighborhoods. The virus has been relatively contained until now. However, curfew restrictions in this neighborhood have eased since then, and people are allowed to be out between the hours of 8am-8pm. Both families of the Al Amal Society will receive grants for an income-generating endeavor that will provide a steady income for their families. We will let you know more about those businesses in our next report.

(Youth Vision Society) The fourth family is Mr. Khader's family, whom we helped earlier in the year.  We helped him restock and renovate his store. However, restocking his store really did not help -- few have money to pay for these goods.  Our team came up with a plan to help him purchase a tuk-tuk and have the cost repaid over time, fairly and without interest. If you don't know, a tuk-tuk is a type of small open vehicle with a long back like a pickup truck that is used to transport goods. Mr. Khader can make extra income as a tuk-tuk driver. Our Gaza City coordinator, Neveen, told us that tuk-tuks are actually more popular than taxis for transporting goods these days because it's an open vehicle and therefore, it is easier as a driver to meet COVID precautions. 

Thank you for your attention and continued support. Your contribution makes it possible for Rebuilding Alliance partners to provide in-depth intervention.  It has changed lives.

Links:

• AP article about virus lockdown
• JPost article about tuk-tuks in Gaza