Um Muhammad al-Masri, displaced from the northern city of Beit Hanoun, never releases its asthma inhaler. She says she would die without that. The smoke fills its store, where it directs a primitive oven fed by the garbage.
“I was prescribed medicine, but I couldn’t pay it, so Unrwa [the UN agency for Palestine refugees] He gave me this inhaler, ”he said UN news correspondent in the enclave.
“When I feel that I am suffocating, my children shout and take me to the hospital.”
Um Mohammed al-Masri, displaced from Beit Hanoun south of the strip, working in a clay oven to bake bread and cook food for displaced people to support their family.
‘What do I have to do?’
The inhaler will last more than two weeks, but he needs to use it so often that he must obtain a new one every three days. “What do I have to do?” She asks.
“I have sons and daughters to take care of. I can’t afford to stop using the oven. I am pregnant and spend all day sitting in front of the smoke.”
Aisha al-ra’i already has several children and is pregnant again. She also has to keep her oven burning every day despite suffering chronic diseases.
Her daughters help her collect plastic remains and early fuel cardboard in the morning. Her children and her wounded husband help her light the fire.
“We pray that this terrible experience is lifted to us so that we can return to our lives, she says crying.” We hope that living conditions improve and that people understand our suffering. “
Aisha al-ra’i, displaced from the city of Gaza to the south of the strip
‘We work because we need to eat’
“I work as a baker with my husband Abu Mohammed,” says Um Muhammad Abu Zuaiter. “We have been working on this profession for a year and a half, and it has caused serious health problems. I have blood pressure, diabetes, a herniated disc, and I need an inhaler.”
Um Mohammed says he suffered a stroke during the last Ramadan, but he can’t stop working.
“We work because we need to eat. We have young children in our store who need to go to the aid distribution points every day. My children were injured twice. We have two older daughters who have hearing loss. We pray to God to give us health.”
Dr. Khalil Al-Daqran, spokesman for the Ministry of Health in Gaza, says that the use of plastics in clay ovens is causing the propagation of pneumonia and asthma.
“As Israel continues to maintain closed crosses and avoid the entry of fuel and cooking gas, women in the gaza strip have resorted to the use of moor and plastic for cooking food and preparing bread in clay ovens.
“This has led to the emission of toxic smoke and fumes, causing the spread of respiratory diseases among the population, which represents a serious risk of public health in the Gaza Strip.”
Hospitals cannot provide treatment
Dr. Al-Daqran adds that Gaza hospitals cannot provide health services to these patients due to the shortage of medications and basic medical supplies.
“This situation requires an urgent intervention of the international community and international organizations to pressure Israel to allow the entry of essential medicines, medical supplies, fuel and food.”
Gaza is witnessing a worsening of the humanitarian crisis as the struggle continues, forcing hundreds of thousands of people displaced to trust in rudimentary survival media.
The UN is ready to provide more essential help, but there are too many obstacles to allow supplies in the necessary scale.
