Snapshots From Gaza

Snapshot No. I

I wake up instantly realizing that the car has no fuel today. By fuel, I mean natural gas because since a week no diesel or natural gas were supplied to the Gaza Strip and of course Benzene was not allowed in months. So I figured out that I should call my taxi company to make sure they have a car before I bother to dress the girls.

The man in charge told me over the phone that we have 2/3 of the taxis stopped but because you are an old customer, we can mange to send you a car today. So I got to breath and a normal working day began. I can walk, you know, I live at a walking distance from my work place but how can I get two kids 4 1/2 and 3 yrs to walk with the bags and all to the day care?

Let me think about that for a while. I thought I should check on my husband. So I called him and unfortunately he did not find a single car to take him to work. So he walked for 30 minutes! Good exercise, I know.

Snapshot No. II

A dear friend called my last night, angry and frustrated that her wedding is going to be postponed because of the transportation crisis. I let her cry for a while and then discussed the details. She lives in Khanyounis in the Southern area of the Gaza Strip and bought most of the furniture from Gaza City , which is about an hour drive from Khanyounis.

She could not find a single car to transport her furniture to her new apartment. So she couldn’t get the house ready on time.