Gaza: A glimmer of hope amidst the devastation

27 January 2009

Elena Qleibo works in the Gaza Strip as a Food Security and Livelihood Officer for Oxfam. She talks about her work in the Strip, as Oxfam starts an emergency response to reach thousands of families who were unable to get access to humanitarian aid during in the past three weeks.

Communities in Gaza are struggling with heavy losses that are difficult for most people to imagine. Some have lost their homes, their businesses and their loved ones. Most people I have met so far are in a state of shock and find it almost impossible, at this stage, to pick up the pieces of their lives.

Two days ago, whilst I was with our partner Maan Development Center, who help us with the food distributions, we came across a glimmer of hope and inspiration amidst so much devastation.

Like all civilians in Gaza, Dr. Risek had been living in a state between life and death during the three-week conflict. Instead of thinking only of his own well-being and that of his family, he and other volunteers immediately came to the aid of their fellow Gazans, cooking meals for thousands of people everyday over an open fire.

He recruited professional cooks who used to work in Israel before the start of the blockade and who are now unemployed. This initiative originally started some six months ago when Dr. Risek decided to help by cooking for hospital patients, single women who are not able to leave their homes and also for elderly people. When the conflict started in late December, Dr. Risek decided to help those seeking refuge in UN schools. Sometimes he and his team prepare meals for 1,000 people, sometimes more.

Dr. Risek's story encourages me in my own work as I try to maintain a positive outlook despite the misery I see around me. Ever since it's been safe to leave my home I have been meeting people, visiting food warehouses and making the arrangements needed for us to distribute food to thousands of families in Gaza City. It has been difficult and frustrating work because we are never sure when the lull would be or what areas would be safe to visit.

Whenever I fell like despairing I think of Dr. Risek's volunteers.