No Food No Work                                                 

Islamic Relief standing with the suffering people of Gaza

“Today I did not go to school because I did not have any pencils,” said 13-year-old Wesam. “Tomorrow is my turn to take the pencils so my younger sister will not be able to go to school.”

 

Wesam lives with her mother, father and four siblings in Rafah in southern Gaza. Her father Saleh Mosa Abu Telakh has been without work for the last ten years during which time the economic situation of the family has rapidly decreased.

 

Living in a crisis

“We have been living in a crisis for the last ten years since I stopped being able to work in Israel,” said Saleh. “I have tried to find work inside Gaza but it is difficult. I may have one day of work a week but that is it.”

“The amount of food I could provide has steadily decreased until it reached such a level that I could not give my children food before they slept and they go to sleep hungry most days.

“When there is no food in the house I go to my friend who is a farmer and he gives me some vegetables,” said Saleh. “I don’t want to go to him and I feel ashamed to ask for help, but when I see my children crying and hungry, I have no choice but to go.”

 

Military incursions

The family’s home is a small shelter with no running water or sanitation facilities. During the last conflict there were many military incursions in the area near their home and one time a missile fell near to the house destroying the water tank and shattering the windows. They now have to walk very far each day to collect water for washing, cooking and drinking.

Although Saleh’s children go to school they do not have uniforms or stationery, and their school buildings were badly damaged by the fighting. Wesam said, “I love school and love my Arabic language teacher. In the future I would like to be a teacher or a lawyer, because lawyers help secure the rights of poor people.”

 

IR food parcel

Saleh’s family recently received a food parcel from Islamic Relief. He said, “The Islamic Relief food parcel was full of food that we need. I feel happy to know that my family has enough food for the next month, and can sleep knowing that the next day they will have enough food when they wake.”

“I ask all donors to keep helping people in Gaza,” said Saleh. “I thank them day and night and pray for them and their families. What I hope for now is that my children get a good education and that we have a proper home and proper food.”