Sunday, November 11, 2007
A VISIT TO GAZA, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2007
About 7AM, Brothers Lorenzo Ravisini and Andres Bergamini, recruited by Sister Susan as one of her last acts before her transfer to the Lebanon as part of the team of the Daughters of Charity Gaza Project (DOCGP), Andrea Mereli, of the Bethlehem University staff, and me began our journey to Gaza. This was my first visit since mid December 2006. Since then, I used all sorts of excuses not to go there because frankly I was afraid. Father Dom Moore, SJ, was my chief excuse, because with him here for the Spring semester I knew that Sister Susan would not have to go alone.
We made good time and arrived at Eretz Checkpoint by 8:30 AM. We proceeded to passport control where we had hardly presented our passports when we were ordered to go quickly to the 'protected’ room. (I knew then why I had not gone to Gaza in ten months). After 20 minutes or so, we were ordered to return to passport control to continue the process of getting into Gaza. Shortly after two of us had our passports stamped, 'Exit’, I received a mobile phone call from our faithful colleague, Sabah Saraj, to tell us that there was fighting in the nearby village of Beit Hanoun, which I knew as soon as we were connected because I could hear machine gun fire.. Undaunted, we braved the situation and agreed to continue rather than turning right around and going back to Bethlehem. Did we make a mistake? On reaching the outside, we were greeted by 3 Apache helicopters hovering overhead, with their noses pointed at Beit Hanoun and occasionally shooting rockets; we could hear the shwiiiiish and shortly after the boooooom. Sabah greeted us with all smiles and said: “Don't worry it is peaceful and quiet in Gaza City. This happens daily and we are used to it.” Not having the faith of Sister Susan, who would say: “This is God's work and He will protect us',” I kept saying that to myself all the time we were in in Gaza. However, being neophytes to such warfare, we decided to curtail our stay and visit only the two schools we wanted to see, Zakher Kindergarten in Shijyyia area of Gaza City and the Baram El Amal near Bureij Refugee Camp in the middle of the strip. It was impossible to visit Amjad Kindergarten in Beit Hanoun; we weren’t crazy enough to go there even though the shooting seemed to have ended.
The main purpose of this report is to comment on our visit to the two schools. First, we went to the closer school in Shijayya and on the way to the school, I observed the narrow, dirt and rutted roads, the poor condition of the houses and shops along the way and the obvious poverty of the area. Because of the economic situation, most of the families lost their resources and depend upon donations and food assistance from Social Services.. The school is in an old rented building rather dark, with 4 small overcrowded classrooms, two bathrooms and a hall, serving 123 children, ages 3,4,5. There are 120 chairs half of which are very old, a few old tables, no shelves, no desks, no toys, no dishes, no cups, no refrigerator. There are four teachers and two volunteers, mostly unemployed university graduates, some from that area. It is a marvel that these women can teach so many children in one classroom under such circumstances. We had a brief discussion with the manager of the Zakher Women’s Association, responsible for this kindergarten and two others, the principal of the school. It is obvious that the school is in need of help and this will be one of our main topics at our meeting next week.
We then traveled several miles into the middle of the Strip to visit Baram El Amal kindergarten in Bureij camp. As we rode through the camp, I could see that there were a fair number of cars, some trucks, but many donkey drawn carts—gas is very expensive when available—many people in the streets, some just sitting an chatting, some stores doing business, others closed, school children and adults moving to and fro, so all seemed rather normal. As we drove by the people shouted greetings and welcomed us. To me, it was encouraging to see that the people, in spite of the difficulties, seem to be managing, at least externally.. After listening to Sabah and Awatif, head of the Bud Flower Association, which is responsible for Baram El Amal school, I realized that people are hungry and that there are some abuses beginning to occur in the families.. I was impressed with the improvement over the months in the school.. My last recollection of it was that of the destruction caused by shootings, bombings and destruction of the land by the Israeli forces, which destroyed the school yard and fence protecting the children, most of the windows without glass, and other internal damage. Everything now is in very good condition, glass in all the windows, the walls painted a bright blue, posters in corridors , the classroom displaying educational charts and pictures, and just a resurrection. Much credit it due to the women and members of the association of their efforts in repairing and modernizing the school facilities.After a falafel sandwich, about 12:15 PM, we headed back to the checkpoint via the shore road to see the Mediterranean and the sandy coast of Gaza, (what a resort it would make if the situation were different!) , We arrived about 1:30 PM, earlier than original planned and after fifteen minutes or so were permitted to go to the checkpoint building. When leaving Gaza, the passports are collected at a place several hundred yards before the checkpoint, where the passports are collected and the names and numbers relayed to the Israeli personnel, who eventually give permission to approach. When we reached the building, we waited and waited and waited until one and a half hours later the doors automatically opened and we were allowed to enter the luggage, personal and passport controls area. Of course, no reason, excuse, or apologies were given. However, much to my surprise, I found the order and system of this new procedure more efficient than the old way. We completed the check-in about half an hour. If only we didn’t have to wait so long before they allowed us to enter. Again our passports were stamped, with ‘entry’ this time. We left Eretz about 4:25 PM and the closer we got to Jerusalem the more traffic we met. Having dropped the Brothers off at New Gate and Andrea Merli at Herod’s Gate. I arrive back in the community house about 6:20 PM, almost 12 hours since leaving earlier that morning.
Bro. Joe.
November 2, 2007
We made good time and arrived at Eretz Checkpoint by 8:30 AM. We proceeded to passport control where we had hardly presented our passports when we were ordered to go quickly to the 'protected’ room. (I knew then why I had not gone to Gaza in ten months). After 20 minutes or so, we were ordered to return to passport control to continue the process of getting into Gaza. Shortly after two of us had our passports stamped, 'Exit’, I received a mobile phone call from our faithful colleague, Sabah Saraj, to tell us that there was fighting in the nearby village of Beit Hanoun, which I knew as soon as we were connected because I could hear machine gun fire.. Undaunted, we braved the situation and agreed to continue rather than turning right around and going back to Bethlehem. Did we make a mistake? On reaching the outside, we were greeted by 3 Apache helicopters hovering overhead, with their noses pointed at Beit Hanoun and occasionally shooting rockets; we could hear the shwiiiiish and shortly after the boooooom. Sabah greeted us with all smiles and said: “Don't worry it is peaceful and quiet in Gaza City. This happens daily and we are used to it.” Not having the faith of Sister Susan, who would say: “This is God's work and He will protect us',” I kept saying that to myself all the time we were in in Gaza. However, being neophytes to such warfare, we decided to curtail our stay and visit only the two schools we wanted to see, Zakher Kindergarten in Shijyyia area of Gaza City and the Baram El Amal near Bureij Refugee Camp in the middle of the strip. It was impossible to visit Amjad Kindergarten in Beit Hanoun; we weren’t crazy enough to go there even though the shooting seemed to have ended.
The main purpose of this report is to comment on our visit to the two schools. First, we went to the closer school in Shijayya and on the way to the school, I observed the narrow, dirt and rutted roads, the poor condition of the houses and shops along the way and the obvious poverty of the area. Because of the economic situation, most of the families lost their resources and depend upon donations and food assistance from Social Services.. The school is in an old rented building rather dark, with 4 small overcrowded classrooms, two bathrooms and a hall, serving 123 children, ages 3,4,5. There are 120 chairs half of which are very old, a few old tables, no shelves, no desks, no toys, no dishes, no cups, no refrigerator. There are four teachers and two volunteers, mostly unemployed university graduates, some from that area. It is a marvel that these women can teach so many children in one classroom under such circumstances. We had a brief discussion with the manager of the Zakher Women’s Association, responsible for this kindergarten and two others, the principal of the school. It is obvious that the school is in need of help and this will be one of our main topics at our meeting next week.
We then traveled several miles into the middle of the Strip to visit Baram El Amal kindergarten in Bureij camp. As we rode through the camp, I could see that there were a fair number of cars, some trucks, but many donkey drawn carts—gas is very expensive when available—many people in the streets, some just sitting an chatting, some stores doing business, others closed, school children and adults moving to and fro, so all seemed rather normal. As we drove by the people shouted greetings and welcomed us. To me, it was encouraging to see that the people, in spite of the difficulties, seem to be managing, at least externally.. After listening to Sabah and Awatif, head of the Bud Flower Association, which is responsible for Baram El Amal school, I realized that people are hungry and that there are some abuses beginning to occur in the families.. I was impressed with the improvement over the months in the school.. My last recollection of it was that of the destruction caused by shootings, bombings and destruction of the land by the Israeli forces, which destroyed the school yard and fence protecting the children, most of the windows without glass, and other internal damage. Everything now is in very good condition, glass in all the windows, the walls painted a bright blue, posters in corridors , the classroom displaying educational charts and pictures, and just a resurrection. Much credit it due to the women and members of the association of their efforts in repairing and modernizing the school facilities.After a falafel sandwich, about 12:15 PM, we headed back to the checkpoint via the shore road to see the Mediterranean and the sandy coast of Gaza, (what a resort it would make if the situation were different!) , We arrived about 1:30 PM, earlier than original planned and after fifteen minutes or so were permitted to go to the checkpoint building. When leaving Gaza, the passports are collected at a place several hundred yards before the checkpoint, where the passports are collected and the names and numbers relayed to the Israeli personnel, who eventually give permission to approach. When we reached the building, we waited and waited and waited until one and a half hours later the doors automatically opened and we were allowed to enter the luggage, personal and passport controls area. Of course, no reason, excuse, or apologies were given. However, much to my surprise, I found the order and system of this new procedure more efficient than the old way. We completed the check-in about half an hour. If only we didn’t have to wait so long before they allowed us to enter. Again our passports were stamped, with ‘entry’ this time. We left Eretz about 4:25 PM and the closer we got to Jerusalem the more traffic we met. Having dropped the Brothers off at New Gate and Andrea Merli at Herod’s Gate. I arrive back in the community house about 6:20 PM, almost 12 hours since leaving earlier that morning.
Bro. Joe.
November 2, 2007
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