Toward the end of June a group of us went to visit some of the sick as the schools had closed at the end of May. Again we found the situation of gasoline and fuels very serious. People had electricity only six or eight hours daily. It’s had a great effect on life for everyone as water must be pumped to the roof, washing done, computers, cell phones charged and such in this short time, not to mention having no light after dark.
Friends of mine went with me this time and we visited two families of who have six to eight children with special needs. The first family which we visited home is without windows and doors so the rats and snakes come in and bother everyone at night. We will try to get this first family windows and doors and seal the sewerage system so the snake cannot enter the home. The father is diabetic and has had both legs amputated. Occasionally he will need oxygen. One teenage son is on a mat: he has severe brain damage. The mother keeps him very clean despite the fact that they have only cold water in the kitchen. The second picture is of the mother and some of her ten children and some of the neighbors, a woman and two children and my friends.
The second family lived between two buildings. We are trying to find them better housing as their home was even worse as much of it had no roof and again they have the problem of rats and snakes entering. They have no running water. Our visit was a surprise visit for the family and all was very clean. We are trying to find this family of ten better housing. These two are the poorest families which I have encountered in my 18 years of visiting the poor of Gaza. The situation in Gaza in general has never been so bad with no end in sight. Yet all live with the hope for better times when political leaders and others put the needs of the poor as a priority.
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