Impact of the recent crisis on us

As everyone knows, we’re lying under a very strong Israeli closure that has badly affected our life as Palestinians as well as our work here in Gaza. For nearly 20 days, nothing is allowed to enter Gaza Strip even the basic needs. Shortage has occurred in all levels and touched every single detail of our life. Main shortage is occurring in food and power supplies. Due to the absence of industrial fuel, the only power plant in Gaza is shut down since 10 days, leaving more than 50% of Gaza Strip areas without any power supply. Population in Gaza city, which is the biggest in Gaza Strip (around 550,000 capita) and the most influenced and infected population with this crisis, have electricity supply for 2-3 hours a day. Due to that condition, water supply, which is directly linked to power supply, suffer huge shortage and people in Gaza city receive water one time a week for less than 6 hours, taking into account that you may have electricity supply but at the same time have no water or the opposite. For the multi-story and high building, it is a disaster because once you don’t have electricity then for sure you have no water.
When it comes to crisis, Gaza people have good experience in facing such problems and difficulties. However, this time it seems that it is away beyond their capabilities. They have even stopped receiving any external aids from UNRWA or any other agencies due to the shortage that UNRWA and other agencies’ stocks suffer. Due to the shortage in cooking gas and flora, all bakeries in Gaza city are closed and there is no more bread available for the people to buy except those who have some flora and make it at their houses. I’m trying to draw a general image about the situation in Gaza but even from the work point of view, our work in the office had been tremendously affected by the current circumstances. We have stopped our usual habit of having breakfast together at office because of the absence of the bread as well as Falafel and other usual food stuff which we use to have. Today, one of my colleague suggested that we can eat some fruits. I went to the fruit shop and tried to buy some apples but I found out that the price has doubled and became very expensive. Our office hours had been reduced due to the shortage of electricity to reach 3-4 hours a day. Even if we’ve electricity that does not mean that we have internet connection, especially for members like me whom are using PC and not laptop. Experiencing such hard circumstances is not new for us but to be honest, this time is the hardest one.