Relief Agency
The general plight of
Palestinian refugees is unbelievable bad.
Starting in 1948, hundreds of thousands have fled to other nations and
to places within the country their own country.
Because of the dire circumstances the United Nations has set up an agency,
United Nations Relief and Works Agency.
Although doing a lot of work, it too has suffered budget problems that
have been passed on to the refugees.
Please check out www.unrwa.org for the specific details.
Al Rowwad
Our team from Bethlehem is
serving in the near by refugee camps.
During a recent visit to one of the three centers, Alrowwad, we found an amazing organization directed by
Dr Abdelfattah Abusrour. His parents
were some of the first residents in the camp, he grew up here, his vision of
the future has created Alrowwad, a center that focused on what he calls,
“beautiful resistance.”
In the initial stages it was
a place where children could act out their responses to the trauma stored in
their hearts and minds. Telling their
story in theater. It became a first
place for a women’s gym where women could get out and “play together.” Many positive changes have happened.
There is a center for
children to visit and learn. In
addition, a mobile game van travels to outside visits villages and provides
play opportunities in nearby villages.
Training opportunities are
giving on computers, Photography and video creation. Also sewing skills.
A sound booth was being built
the day we visited.
A wonder theater space in the
basement where productions are put on for the community. Also, groups
of performers trained here have traveled internationally telling their story
We felt the inspiration toward “Beautiful Resistance” to the evil in the world.
We hear the news that comes
from this Refugee Camp. There are many nightly incursions in this camp. The army
comes in and pulls Palestinians out of their beds and spread terror throughout
the camp. Last week live bullets were
used and one teenager is now hospitalized.
During one visit, the night previous there had been tear gas shot into
the camp for no apparent reason.
When we heard
the talk from the group “Breaking the Silence, www.breakingthesilence.org. We
were told that these are policies and tactics of the army. At times the army uses these in refugee camps against
Palestinians just as training exercises.
Out of all this darkness,
seeing the positive good flowing from Dr Adbelfattah Abusrour’s dream can be light
in the darkness for each of us. From their
web site, www.alrowwad-acts.ps you can connect with the Friends of
Alrowwad-USA.
Palestinian Loss of Land
Those of you who have seen my display board are familiar with the content of this poster. It shows the loss of Palestinian land since 1948.
