Food parcels bring relief to family ‘entombed in poverty’
Yousif Tawfik Lobbad is a 42-year old man with eight children. Yousif has been unemployed for the past four years. During a workplace accident he damaged the nerves in his hand and can no longer perform manual work. Yousif had completed schooling until the first level of secondary school and had been working spinning carpets by hand to support his family. Now, he is afraid he can no longer support them.
Yousif has a wonderful wife and children; however, the increasing needs of his family have quickly exceeded any meager income Yousif earns a meager income by selling goods in front of his brother-in-law’s house, where the whole family currently resides. His wife Randa, 35, has sold all her valuable possessions and jewelry, even her wedding ring.
We feel strangled; like we are living in a tomb And there are other obstacles and difficulties. Randa completed the second level of secondary school but has limited mobility as a result of a previous break to her leg. Yousif and Randa’s eldest son Mohammad is currently in the second level of secondary school. Ghadir, 16, is in the ninth grade, although she should be in tenth, but due to a severe car accident, she remained home from school for a year. Yousif and his family do not have the money to pay for the necessary surgery. Amna, 15, is in the same class as her sister, Ghadir. Yousif’s middle children include Ghada, in the sixth grade, Ahmed, 10, in the sixth grade, and Mahmoud, 8, who is in the second grade.
Yousif’s two younger children face further difficulties. Abed El Rahman is Yousif and Randa’s second youngest child. Abed no longer attends school due to psychological problems, exhibited in his aggressive and ill-mannered behaviour. Abed has previously fought with and attacked teachers, students, neighbours, and guests. His parents are extremely worried about him and have sought the help of a local psychiatrist. Hala, the youngest, is just 17 months old. Hala suffers from narrowness of the pulmonary valve, as well as a hole in her heart. She needs to undergo a CT scan and will require surgery in three years. However, her parents do not have the necessary money and fear they won’t be able to afford the operation.
The family is currently living in Randa’s brother’s home where they feel they have overstayed their welcome. Relationships have become strained. Tensions easily flare. “We feel strangled; like we are living in a tomb”, says Ghadir, 16.
During the winter, rainwater and sewage leakages in the home are commonplace.
The family’s constant struggle was exacerbated tenfold in January when fighting between the Israeli army and Hamas brought Gaza to its knees – on the back of a lengthy blockade of the strip which has crippled the economy.
It is the support of organisations like World Vision that has been a lifeline to the family in recent months. Two parcels provided by World Vision including vegetables and hygienic materials brought much-needed relief.
”We were overjoyed and the children celebrated - this was the first time they had eaten fresh vegetables in over nine years”, says Randa.
We were overjoyed and the children celebrated - this was the first time they had eaten fresh vegetables in over nine years Yousif will be employed in World Vision’s Early Recovery Project in the maintenance and cleaning of agricultural lands that were damaged in the conflict. This will provide temporary income, but it is hoped the project will lead onto other work for Yousif and others like him.
All the children dream of having new clothes and the privacy and luxury of a home. Mohammad dreams of having his own room, with a desk he can use for his studies. Ghadir dreams of the day they will leave the house they are in and have a home of their own.
Now, they can only rely on the compassion of their family, help of humanitarian organisations, and the grace of God.
The AusAid Gaza Humanitarian Assistance intervention benefitted 5,903 families (30,101 people) in February and March 2009 through the distribution of 3,425 fresh and dried food parcels, 3,012 blankets, and 1,192 hygiene kits in North and South Gaza.
-Ends-
Yousif has a wonderful wife and children; however, the increasing needs of his family have quickly exceeded any meager income Yousif earns a meager income by selling goods in front of his brother-in-law’s house, where the whole family currently resides. His wife Randa, 35, has sold all her valuable possessions and jewelry, even her wedding ring.
We feel strangled; like we are living in a tomb And there are other obstacles and difficulties. Randa completed the second level of secondary school but has limited mobility as a result of a previous break to her leg. Yousif and Randa’s eldest son Mohammad is currently in the second level of secondary school. Ghadir, 16, is in the ninth grade, although she should be in tenth, but due to a severe car accident, she remained home from school for a year. Yousif and his family do not have the money to pay for the necessary surgery. Amna, 15, is in the same class as her sister, Ghadir. Yousif’s middle children include Ghada, in the sixth grade, Ahmed, 10, in the sixth grade, and Mahmoud, 8, who is in the second grade.
Yousif’s two younger children face further difficulties. Abed El Rahman is Yousif and Randa’s second youngest child. Abed no longer attends school due to psychological problems, exhibited in his aggressive and ill-mannered behaviour. Abed has previously fought with and attacked teachers, students, neighbours, and guests. His parents are extremely worried about him and have sought the help of a local psychiatrist. Hala, the youngest, is just 17 months old. Hala suffers from narrowness of the pulmonary valve, as well as a hole in her heart. She needs to undergo a CT scan and will require surgery in three years. However, her parents do not have the necessary money and fear they won’t be able to afford the operation.
The family is currently living in Randa’s brother’s home where they feel they have overstayed their welcome. Relationships have become strained. Tensions easily flare. “We feel strangled; like we are living in a tomb”, says Ghadir, 16.
During the winter, rainwater and sewage leakages in the home are commonplace.
The family’s constant struggle was exacerbated tenfold in January when fighting between the Israeli army and Hamas brought Gaza to its knees – on the back of a lengthy blockade of the strip which has crippled the economy.
It is the support of organisations like World Vision that has been a lifeline to the family in recent months. Two parcels provided by World Vision including vegetables and hygienic materials brought much-needed relief.
”We were overjoyed and the children celebrated - this was the first time they had eaten fresh vegetables in over nine years”, says Randa.
We were overjoyed and the children celebrated - this was the first time they had eaten fresh vegetables in over nine years Yousif will be employed in World Vision’s Early Recovery Project in the maintenance and cleaning of agricultural lands that were damaged in the conflict. This will provide temporary income, but it is hoped the project will lead onto other work for Yousif and others like him.
All the children dream of having new clothes and the privacy and luxury of a home. Mohammad dreams of having his own room, with a desk he can use for his studies. Ghadir dreams of the day they will leave the house they are in and have a home of their own.
Now, they can only rely on the compassion of their family, help of humanitarian organisations, and the grace of God.
The AusAid Gaza Humanitarian Assistance intervention benefitted 5,903 families (30,101 people) in February and March 2009 through the distribution of 3,425 fresh and dried food parcels, 3,012 blankets, and 1,192 hygiene kits in North and South Gaza.
-Ends-
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