3 January 2009
I heard the news that the American International School was hit in a strike. Of course the school was empty – they all are.
I spoke to 12 year-old Nour today. He studies at Dar Al Arqam School. It was hit in the first few days of the bombing. Instead of sitting his exams he sits at home reading books trying desperately to blank out the bombing.
“I have a number of story books. I love reading but I read all the stories. There is no electricity to watch cartoons and there is no safety to go and buy new story books, it’s terrifying and boring to stay under fire all this time,” he said.
The schools have called the winter holidays early as the security situation is getting worse each day. But these holidays won’t be the same for Nour or his friends. They won’t be playing in the streets of Gaza; instead they will be sitting terrified in their houses. “I’ll never enjoy this holiday. Everyday I listen to bad news about people being killed. I will also not go to my desk if schools open because my class is among the classes which were destroyed,” he said.
Nine year-old Masa is another Gazan child who is trying to make sense of what is happening, “I fill my time in studying, but the sound of planes and shelling is not letting me focus on the lessons. I try to stay near my mother and father and hug them several times a day,” she said.
“I got bored of staying at home all this time. I want to play with my friends and cousins. I want the shelling to stop because I become scared when I hear it everyday.”
It’s sad speaking to these children and hearing their stories and thoughts. They should be playing in the streets but instead they spend their time hiding indoors – terrified and confused. More than 50 children were killed during the last week. Schools are shut down and students are not going to their exams.
Tomorrow we will deliver blankets and food parcels to three shelter locations which have been opened in UN schools for families who live in the border areas and who have been evacuated from their homes.