Gaza: Ahmed's story

18 March 2009

Thanks to the financial support of the European Commission Humanitarian Aid Department (DG-ECHO), Oxfam GB and its partner Ma'an Development Center have rehabilitated 46 kilometres of agricultural roads in four areas of the Gaza Strip. This project has created temporary paid work to 920 people, who were previously unemployed.

Oxfam's Mohammed Ali met with Ahmed Hamdi Heji to see how the project has helped him and his family to cope with the harsh living conditions prevailing in the Gaza Strip following the most recent war.

Ahmed Hamdi Heji is 40 years old. He lives in Al Mughraqa, south of Gaza city with his wife and 11 children. Ahmed used to work in a cement block factory but lost his job two years ago, when the Israeli government imposed a blockade on Gaza - it became impossible for his employer to import the raw materials needed from Israel.

"I used to get 50 ILS (12 US dollars) per day at the factory. It was not a lot, but I was happy with the work and I could provide for my family. Since I lost my only source of income, I have relied entirely on my father and brothers-in-law."

Last December, Ahmed took part in the Oxfam-Ma'an cash-for-work agricultural roads rehabilitation project for 20 half-days.

"I was so happy to take part in this project. I knew it was only going to be for a short period of time but you cannot imagine how much it meant for me to leave the house and go to work every morning after two years of being unemployed."

"I worked really hard and I think my contribution was appreciated. It was much better than staying at home."

"Now that the project is completed, people still commend the quality of the roads we rehabilitated. When it rained a lot recently, my neighbours were still able to use the roads with their cars or carts, which was not the case before. I feel truly proud of my work! I think I made a great contribution to neighbourhood life."

"I used the money I earned, to pay off some of the debts I had at the grocer and I used the rest to buy some essentials for the family.

"The price of meat and chicken rose really quickly during the latest war in Gaza. I still cannot afford to buy it. And on top of that my home was partially destroyed by the Israeli military. All the furniture was wrecked and we cannot even live in the apartment anymore."

"Even if I had the money I am not sure I could rebuild the damaged parts. Building materials are banned from entering the Gaza Strip."

Ahmed's wife Sheifa has noticed the impact of the programme."This project was such a positive thing in our lives. My husband was working hard, he felt confident and the kids were happy to see their father like this. Now, we are hopeful for more opportunities like this one, but in the meantime my husband has to rely on his father and my brothers."

With rising food prices, demolished houses to rebuild, injured relatives to tend to, there are feelings of deep insecurity in many families. The need for more projects like the Oxfam-ECHO cash-for-wor programme is pressing.

Sheifa concludes: "When you came to visit us during the project we were much closer to being able to buy windows and doors for the house. Since the war, we realised that Ahmed would need a full year of work to pay for reconstructing the house! We are starting from scratch again and it is difficult."