Interview with the Association Nour al-Marifa in Gaza
An interview by Milena Rampoldi, ProMosaik e.V.
In this post we would like to introduce you to the
Gazan Association Nour El-Marifa Association (N.M.A). Nour El-Marifa is a
charitable, non-governmental and nonprofit organization in Gaza. It provides
educational, social, humanitarian, cultural, and development services to the
people in Gaza.
ProMosaik e.V. talked to Islam Ghorap of NourEl-Marifa to speak about the general situation in Gaza, one year after the
Israeli aggression and to understand the concrete and most important problems
people and in particular women and children have there because of the siege and
the constant Zionist threat.
For further information: www.nooralmerifa.org
ProMosaik
e.V. thinks that the children in Gaza are the real victims of the Israeli
aggression. Which problems do they have?
e.V. thinks that the children in Gaza are the real victims of the Israeli
aggression. Which problems do they have?
The most important problems
children face in Gaza are the following:
children face in Gaza are the following:
1.- Poverty: Because of the suffocating
siege imposed to the Gaza Strip by the Israeli occupation, we have a bad deterioration
of the economic situation of the majority of the families in Gaza. Many of them
live in poverty because of Zionist oppression.
2.- Lack of a sense of psychological stability: The reason for this instability
are the continuous Israeli aggressions against the Gaza Strip. The vast
majority of children in the Gaza Strip feels fear, anxiety and existential insecurity.
3.- Prevalence of learning difficulties among children in the Gaza Strip: this
is because of the instability of the situation (of the schools in Gaza in
general), and because of the lack of a sense of students’ safety in their
schools. The result is first of all a reduced level of students in school and
the diffusion of the phenomenon of the difficulty of learning. In our organization,
we analyzed this problem to support children at school and to promote
activities to help them.
4.- The increasing number of children orphaned and women widowed by the
frequent wars in the Gaza Strip: Children and women suffer from emotional
deprivation, are alone and abandoned. Many children and women lost their family
members during the war, and also have extreme difficult economic situations to
face.
siege imposed to the Gaza Strip by the Israeli occupation, we have a bad deterioration
of the economic situation of the majority of the families in Gaza. Many of them
live in poverty because of Zionist oppression.
2.- Lack of a sense of psychological stability: The reason for this instability
are the continuous Israeli aggressions against the Gaza Strip. The vast
majority of children in the Gaza Strip feels fear, anxiety and existential insecurity.
3.- Prevalence of learning difficulties among children in the Gaza Strip: this
is because of the instability of the situation (of the schools in Gaza in
general), and because of the lack of a sense of students’ safety in their
schools. The result is first of all a reduced level of students in school and
the diffusion of the phenomenon of the difficulty of learning. In our organization,
we analyzed this problem to support children at school and to promote
activities to help them.
4.- The increasing number of children orphaned and women widowed by the
frequent wars in the Gaza Strip: Children and women suffer from emotional
deprivation, are alone and abandoned. Many children and women lost their family
members during the war, and also have extreme difficult economic situations to
face.
What can we do to help women in Gaza?
As you know, there are many
widows and women who lost their husbands in the Israeli wars against the Gaza
Strip. Our organization pursues the goal of supporting women and their
children, and orphans. In our case unit we offer social and psychological
support and learning help to children. They need both, economic and psychological
support. We offer vocational training courses to women in different areas like
sewing, food processing and cosmetics, to help them to enter the labor market
and to improve their standard of living for their families.
widows and women who lost their husbands in the Israeli wars against the Gaza
Strip. Our organization pursues the goal of supporting women and their
children, and orphans. In our case unit we offer social and psychological
support and learning help to children. They need both, economic and psychological
support. We offer vocational training courses to women in different areas like
sewing, food processing and cosmetics, to help them to enter the labor market
and to improve their standard of living for their families.
How can peace come for Gaza?
There is no peace in Gaza because of the suffocating siege by the Israeli
regime. This is the fundamental reason why chances to have a sustainable peace
for Gaza are very weak. All parties together have to support peace for Gaza.
The siege must have an end, and people in Gaza must get the support they need.
Can you tell us the story of a couple of
families (without telling the names) to make people understand how the real
situation in Gaza is?
families (without telling the names) to make people understand how the real
situation in Gaza is?
Allah knows
their stories better. But the most symbolic example of needy families in Gaza
is that of the breadwinner losing the job, being ill and incapable of caring
about the family. The economic situation is catastrophic, in particular because
of the total lack of private jobs in the Gaza Strip. Many people here have
studied at the University, and after their graduation they did not find any
job. So they cannot care for their children. There are thousands of graduates
who suffer from unemployment and poverty due to the deterioration of the
situation because of the occupation.
their stories better. But the most symbolic example of needy families in Gaza
is that of the breadwinner losing the job, being ill and incapable of caring
about the family. The economic situation is catastrophic, in particular because
of the total lack of private jobs in the Gaza Strip. Many people here have
studied at the University, and after their graduation they did not find any
job. So they cannot care for their children. There are thousands of graduates
who suffer from unemployment and poverty due to the deterioration of the
situation because of the occupation.
Why is Zionism the root of the
problem of Gaza?
Our
organisation is not a politcal one. So we do not discuss Zionism and Zionist
politics.
organisation is not a politcal one. So we do not discuss Zionism and Zionist
politics.
We are
convinced that Allah loves humanity, and that we are all human beings and all
equal. Gaza has to be free and independent to guarantee a life in dignity for
all its inhabitants. The siege must be broken because it is the root of the
problem. Zionist occupation of Palestine is the root of all problems. But our
goal as non-profit organization is to serve Palestinians, exposed to violations
because of this suffocating siege. And to help our people we need partners,
humanitarian associations helping us.
convinced that Allah loves humanity, and that we are all human beings and all
equal. Gaza has to be free and independent to guarantee a life in dignity for
all its inhabitants. The siege must be broken because it is the root of the
problem. Zionist occupation of Palestine is the root of all problems. But our
goal as non-profit organization is to serve Palestinians, exposed to violations
because of this suffocating siege. And to help our people we need partners,
humanitarian associations helping us.
