“You can’t live with despair, and there is certainly no despair if you’re living.” Huda Al Shaghnobi or Em Wassim started her conversation with us, as we paid her a visit to deliver some relief items donated by HCI. Em Wassim was very much delighted to have us over in her small yet loving house.
Em Wassim’s voice became incredibly sad as she told us about how she had lost her husband last summer. “He died while trying to save my children’s lives. We were stuck in the elevator after the electricity cut off, he opened the elevator’s door between the 5th and the 6th floor, and while rescuing the family, he fell into the elevator’s hole. If I had not seen him, I would have never known where he was. All the rescue team’s efforts to save his life failed, and he passed away, leaving his 10 children behind”
“He is a martyr like everyone else who died as result of the continuous Israeli assaults on Palestinian citizens.” Em Wassim concluded. Their eldest son Wassim couldn’t see his father and pay off his last words of respect. Wassim himself had been injured during an Israeli invasion on the northern region of Gaza and had survived a few months coma. Wassim was hospitalized in Egypt and returned five months after his father’s death. He arrived to the house oblivious to the fact that his father had passed away.
Wassim shared with us how he received the sad news:”When I arrived to Gaza, I was looking for my father’s face among all this people that were there, but I couldn’t find him. I asked about him, and someone told me he was still at work, so I immediately called his cell phone to let him know that I had arrived, his phone was off. I went to our house, and stayed there until my mother returned and told me what had happened–I didn’t cry. Palestinians can’t afford to cry anymore.”
25-year old Wassim and his 23-year old brother Haithem who’s been married for five years have tried futilely to start a family of their own to no avail. Their father died without having the chance to hear the word “Granddad”. Wassim who continues to suffer from his injuries receives an income of $150/month from the Palestinian Wounded People Association. He requires a wheelchair for mobility and a minimum of $200/month to undergo physiotherapy.
Add on to that, Em wassim, was diagnosed with breast cancer three years ago. She has managed to cover some of the medical expenses-doctor visits and a mammogram every six months through petty money donated by various charitable persons. Two years ago, her son Murid went into surgery for a punctured heart and required intensive medical care including a regular echo check-up.
Her daughter Haneen, have reached secondary school and has to borrow clothes from the neighbors because her elementary school clothes are worn out after having to wear them for four consecutive years. Her son Mohanad who’s in elementary school, does not own a school bag pack like the rest of his peers. Baraa the youngest daughter just went into kindergarten with only sandals on her feet. The family cannot afford winter or summer clothes.
This family is fighting poverty and desperation every day of their lives. Despite that, Em wassim’s spirits are high. She spends every day searching for sponsorship for her children including medication.
Em Wassim was speechless when Human Concern International offered her family the relief package. “I am thankful that you looked our way and helped us. I have never lost faith in the goodness in people and you have been very generous to us. May God bless you.”
(This story is part of a series of personal stories, compiled by Eman Khader, depicting the state of despair and hope seen in Gaza today. They have been compiled by HCI personnel during HCI’s relief and development work in the worst-hit areas in and around Gaza City. Through an at-home-needs assessment and extensive outreach activities each family received a parcel consisting of food and hygiene items which were put together in partnership with HCI’s local partner in Gaza, The Aid and Hope Centre for the Care of Cancer Patients and their Families. Forty-eight local volunteers are helping make this project possible.)
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