TEHRAN (FNA)- Akram al-Satarri, a journalist based in the besieged Gaza Strip, says Israeli prolonged blockade has made social distancing an “unattainable dream” during coronavirus outbreak, as many families, who became homeless in Israeli attacks, are forced to share their living place.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with FNA, Akram al-Satarri said, “Some of the refugee camp houses accommodate 5 families with an average total number of 20 dwellers […] How can social distancing be applicable when the distance between one house and other is less than one meter let alone the distance between people living in these narrow houses with 7 family members sleeping at the same room in some of the cases.”
Akram al-Satarri is a Palestinian journalist based in the Gaza Strip. He has extensively covered the Israeli assaults on the enclave in his reports for international media. He appears frequently as a political commentator on various TV channels.
Below is the full text of the interview:
Q: Gaza has one of the highest population densities in the world. Would Gazans be able to observe the social distance during the COVID-19 pandemic?
A: Given the fact there are at least 1.4 million refugees in Gaza living in old and weary houses since 1948, 1956 and 1967 with little maintenance if any, social distancing becomes an unattainable dream. Some of the refugee camp houses accommodate 5 families with an average total number of 20 dwellers inclusive grandparents, parents, youth and children of different ages. In conclusion, the outbreak of the Novel COVID-19 in the Gaza would be catastrophic given the overall conditions of the structure affected by the prolonged siege and occupation. The nature of the pandemic and the recent knowledge about how it is communicated supports the analogy of its far reaching ramifications on the life of Gazans if it spread amongst them. How can social distancing be applicable when the distance between one house and other is less than one meter let alone the distance between people living in these narrow houses with 7 family members sleeping at the same room in some of the cases.
Q: The rates of poverty and unemployment in the Gaza Strip already reached nearly 75% last year. How do you think Gazans’ lives are economically affected during the coronavirus outbreak?
A: The economic impact of the corona virus is already apparent adding insult to injury and increasing the number of unemployed people. In the meantime, vendors, drivers and other casual laborers who used to work for the private sector are not able to earn their daily living owing to the slow markets and almost non-existent economic activities. The ones who are affected have already been living below the poverty line but have been struggling to secure their basic needs till the agony exacerbated due to COVID-19. This particular time preceding the holy month of Ramadan is of a particular importance for all segments of the Gazan community where they are overburdened again by needs they are afraid they will never be able to fulfil due to the slow market, lack on income and abject poverty. Despite the fact that around 75% of the Gazans receive aid from different aid organizations in the hope of alleviating the suffering and addressing some of the direct implications of poverty and unemployment, people are still vulnerable to economic bottlenecks.
Q: The people of Gaza have been already suffering from the Israeli siege. How would they endure the new pain: the deadly disease?
A: Gazans have been experiencing different types of pain including the pain of refugee, imprisonment, war and denial of rights. However, the COVID-19 is mix of anxiety and fear for it affects all generations with a specific lethal impact on elderly people and those with chronic diseases. Therefore, the threat this time is different and with that comes a different type of fear. Gaza that proved to be immune to breaking is fearful now over the fate of elderly people who are perceived as a social asset overflowing with wisdom and tender care. However, no matter how the world changes I believe Gaza will recover, thrive and rise.
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