'I am not asking for money'
A story of life behind the economic blockade in Gaza
The United Nations says that Gaza could become uninhabitable by 2020, due to the complete economic blockade imposed by Israel. The blockade has stifled Gaza’s economy, making it difficult to import or export basic goods.
Mohammad Abd-Elnabi is accustomed to hard work. To support his family of five children, he worked two jobs, at a plastics factory and as a tailor. But after Israel imposed its blockade in 2007, Abd-Elnabi lost his job at the factory, which was forced to lay off half of its employees. The blockade also caused the price of imported fabric to skyrocket, bringing an end to his tailoring work.
To feed his family, he now does seasonal agricultural work. The work is inconsistent and does not pay well. The government provides his family the equivalent of $200 (U.S.) every three months, but this is not enough to cover the family’s expenses.
Mohammad Abd-Elnabi and four of his five children: the girls left to right, Sama Abd-Elnabi and Fatema Abd-Elnabi; and the boys, Yousef Abd-Elnabi and Ahmed Abd-Elnabi.MCC photo/Mostafa Al Naffar
“I am not asking for money. I am asking for a job that allows me to rebuild my home,” he says, explaining that it was destroyed in the war in 2014.
When asked how his family is surviving, Abd-Elnabi says, “God provides.” He says he wants to return to what life was like before the blockade, so he can find the work he needs. He dreams that his children will one day experience safe and secure households.
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Other stories in this series:
The food is ruined