Support the #LightsOnGaza Campaign and Write to Your MP

The electricity crisis in Gaza: How you can help 

Support the #LightsOnGaza Campaign

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The ongoing electricity crisis in Gaza is the result of actions and decisions made by the Palestinian Authorities (PA) and by Israel. A recent decision by the PA to stop payments for fuel into Gaza comes as the 11th year of an Israeli-imposed blockade on the strip begins.

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Four months after the electricity crisis began and the effects are disastrous: the majority of the residents of Gaza have access to only 2 hours of electricity a day. Not only can residents not turn on lights, air conditioning or phone chargers, but it means that fridges do not work and food can often not be kept for more than a day; it means that sewage treatment plants cannot function; and it means that hospitals cannot look after their patients. There are around 110 patients in intensive care who are in critical danger, with a further 113 newborn babies also in intensive care, as well as 658 patients requiring dialysis treatment several times a week. They all rely on electricity to power the machines needed for treating them.

  • The majority of people have only 2 hours of electricity per day in Gaza
  • 2 million people lack proper water and sanitation
  • 113 newborn babies in intensive care are in critical danger
  • Zero sewage treatment centres are functioning
  • 120 million litres of raw sewage enter the sea every day
  • 73% of Gaza's coastline is polluted

Read the Guardian's coverage of the crisis and the suffering

The situation is worse than after the 2014 war in Gaza; then, 50% of sewage treatment centres were not functioning. Now, none of them are functioning and 73% of Gaza's coastline has become polluted. 120 million litres of raw sewage enter the sea on a daily basis. 2 million people now also lack proper water and sanitation facilities and desalination plants have stopped running. The pollution and lack of sanitation combined mean the risk of widespread disease is severe and, with hospitals unable to function properly, Gaza's capacity to cope is significantly reduced.

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The effects on businesses are also critical: fishermen cannot store - or sell - what they catch; farmers cannot irrigate crops; and businesses relying on ICT cannot meet deadlines, forcing them to reduce their numbers of staff.

On top of all of this, Israeli airstrikes hit the Gaza Strip on the night of 8 August.

Oxfam has described the crisis as an illegal punitive measure against an entire nation and has urged an immediate end to the crisis. Read their full press release here

What can you do to help ?

Caabu encourages all of its members and supporters to support the#LightsOnGaza social media campaign led by Oxfam and 7amleh. Watch their video

 

Use the hashtag on Twitter or visit their Facebook page and 'check-in' on Facebook to the Gaza power plant. This is how to 'check-in':

 
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Using the hashtag means you can show your support for those suffering in Gaza and put pressure on authorities to put an end to the crisis.

Additionally, you can contact your local MP, urging them to help those living in Gaza who have access to only 2 hours of electricity per day. Find your local MP here and write to them to encourage them to engage with the #LightsOnGaza campaign on Twitter and Facebook and contribute to raising awareness of the crisis. The crisis and civilian suffering are a result of political decisions and something that our MPs should be calling out as unacceptable.

 

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You can keep track of Caabu's work  by following @Caabu on Twitter or by 'Liking' our Facebook page. Please share this with friends, colleagues, family members or anyone else who thinks this is important. 

Find out how to get involved with Caabu here.