GAZA, March 30, 2010 (WAFA)- Fishing is a vital industry in the Gaza Strip, and one that dates back to the ages in the ancient port of Gaza City. However the sector has suffered greatly since the 2000 resumption of fighting. The Palestinian fishing vessels are restricted to sail at a limit of only five kilometres from the shore and the economic blockade since 2007 has prevented the importation of many materials needed for the fishing sector.
Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development (ACTED), with the financial support of Cités Unies France, started a project in November 2009 to help rebuild the livelihoods of fishermen.
Gaza's Beach Refugee Camp is a sprawling neighborhood buttressed between Gaza City and the Mediterranean Sea with a very high unemployment and poor living conditions. Established in 1948, the housing of Beach Camp was only meant to be temporary. So now, despite a beautiful sunset view along Gaza's corniche, the homes are packed tightly, seeming to encroach on the mazes of small alleyways filled with mixtures of sand, sewage and litter.
Like many residents, 51-year old Hani Al Amoudi has been a fisherman his whole life, but he has not had consistent work since his boat suffered damage on a rocky shore some two decades ago. When showing his place of living, Hani becomes somewhat despondent. He sighs and shakes his head: 'We are eleven persons living in one room so you can imagine how our life is going.' His family must share a small house with the families of five other relatives. The home suffered some structural damage during the most recent fighting, leaving large cracks in their walls and exposing it to the winds and rains of winter.
At the shore, Hani walks towards his old boat on the beach. He is one of 35 poor boat owners having their vessel repaired by ACTED scheme. In addition, through the project, 120 unemployed fishermen are being employed to help in the repairs and 800 other fishermen will receive new or repaired nets. Hani explains that the situation of the fishing sector has only gotten worse since the economic blockade began in 2007. 'Since the siege started and the reduction of the area of fishing from twelve miles to just five kilometres, fishing became so difficult that many days I cannot find food for my children.' He says that he looked for work in other areas, but could find no other opportunities. 'When I heard that ACTED wanted to help repair my boat which has been in disrepair for 20 years, it made me extremely happy', he explained.
Hani's slender boat is still a very simple craft made of just wood and fiberglass. But thanks to the donated materials and help from laborers, it now just needs some finishing touches before it is ready to return to the sea. He thanks ACTED and the donor adding, 'This is the biggest assistance I have ever received in my life. I will return to fishing to get my children food; I want them to be happy after years of sadness and to live a decent life.'
