Emergency and Livelihood Support for West Bank Palestinians

The continuing situation in the West Bank, where Palestinian workers, who once came into Israel daily to work and make a living, have been barred from entering Israel, has resulted in an unprecedented crisis of poverty, lack of healthcare, and increasing social strains in and between West Bank families. As a concerned Canadian living in Israel, I initiated a crowdfunding campaign to help two West Bank Palestinian friends find ways to support themselves financially.

Hassan and Ahmad, whose real names I am not liberty to divulge due to fears of reributiuon, worked in our Jerusalem neighborhood prior to the Hamas onslaught. They support about two dozen people between them and are among the majority of West Bankers who have never had anything to do with Hamas or its ideology – and, like Israelis, woke up on 7 October to an entirely new reality.

In addition to being barred from entering Israel, their towns have been cut off for months by Israeli troops from key services in Hebron and Bethlehem - an effective lockdown that leaves them unable to access public health services, and forces them to turn to private doctors and hospitals when necessary.

In line with the ancient maxim “to save one life is to save the world,” a few families in our neighborhood banded together to support these two families - as well as reaching out to friends abroad on the following link.

https://gofund.me/159cf774

Emergency aid and long-term income sustainability

We are now raising money for emergency aid, while continuing to support their attempts to develop long-term, local solutions to supporting their families.

• Buy wood to heat their homes this winter (yes - wood heating remains the only economic option for the poor); and ensure enough staple food supplies.

• Emergency health support. Hassan’s wife recently gave birth in a complicated Ceasarean. She was forced to deliver at a nearby private hospital because the public hospital couldn’t be reached due to military road blockades when she went into labour.

• Vegetable production on the small plots of land they have available – which still requires money to invest in, and pay for, irrigation and other supplies.

About the families

• Ahmed is the head of an extended family which includes his three older children, two of whom are married, one with three children. Ahmed’s first wife died after years fighting an auto-immune disease, and he now has three young children, ages 7, 9 and 12, with his second wife.

• Hassan has four small children, ages 1, 4, 6 and 8. He has a BA in physical education, but there are very few opportunities in the area for Phys Ed teachers and he was never able to find work in his profession. He is a hard worker and a wonderful father who is totally committed to his children, always looking for ways to ensure their future.

What’s been done so far

With funds raised so far, Ahmad has been able to prepare his land for cultivation, planted trees, sabras (cacti with edible fruits), and other crops which will begin to generate income in the next few months. He has also begun to install watering systems in preparation for next year's dry summer months, but he needs to further develop those to guarantee a sufficient supply of water for the coming years.

Hassan has required support for himself following a leg injury, followed by an operation for his 7 year-old daughter on her inner ear. Most of these procedures have had to be performed at private hospitals - due either to the lack of available public services as well as, at times, the Israeli blockade of the village.

Hassan too has begun farming his land and has also had the opportunity to invest in an ongoing local venture which ensures the supply of basic food items in these difficult times. Over the last few years he had managed to save the lion’s share of what he needs to make the full investment. Helping him complete the amount will ensure a small monthly income to supplement whatever he will make from farming.

I know that many of you donate to urgent causes around the world. But please remember this:

While all eyes have been on Gaza - from rich Gulf states to affluent donors in Europe and the Americas, the burgeoning crisis in the West Bank has been largely ignored by the world.

The support you can provide to the poorest of the West Bank’s Palestinian society can help avert a humanitarian catastrophe there, bringing us just one tiny step closer to the peace and co-existence that we strive to foster.

I am hopeful that you will find it in your hearts to help. Even the smallest donation will be appreciated.