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OPT: Gaza fishermen struggle for survival - ICRC provides funds to repair boats and gear

On the beaches of Gaza, fishermen are returning to sea following the withdrawal of Israeli settlers last year. But after five years of disuse, many boats are holed and rusted. Those fishermen who can return to sea find that they are being shot at by the Israeli Defence Forces Further difficulties stem from the lack of access to markets, and restrictions on fishing areas. As a result, it is difficult if not impossible for the fishermen in Gaza to earn enough to support themselves and their families.
The sardine season started in April and since then many of the 3,500 fishermen registered in Gaza have been able to start work again. But some fishing boats have been riddled with bullets by the Israeli Defence Forces who patrol outside the 10 mile fishing limit. Of boats which were shot at recently (31 May) two boats were sunk and others needed major repair before they could go to sea again.

Over the past five years, the Gaza fishermen's boats and equipment have fallen into disrepair since they were allowed only limited access to the beach and their boats. The fishing area is restricted to a 10 nautical mile limit along 38 kilometres of the Gaza coast. The fishermen say that this is not enough to reach the sardine shoals, especially since fish numbers in the Mediterranean have considerably reduced in recent years. In addition, the fishermen are not permitted to export their catch from Gaza to sell in other Palestinian Territories, so their access to markets is extremely limited.

To ease the plight of the Gaza fishermen and reduce their dependence on food assistance, the ICRC is providing funds to refurbish the boats and to replace essential equipment such as engines and fishing gear.

Around 3,500 fishermen are registered in Gaza and the industry indirectly provides work for a further 1,500 people such as carpenters and traders. The fishermen are divided between four harbours in the Gaza Strip (Gaza, Deir El Balah, Rafah, and Khan Younis) with about 1,040 fishermen based in the especially vulnerable Mawasi area (Rafah and Khan Younis). Fishermen from Khan Younis were totally prevented from fishing between 2000 and 2005, and were restricted from maintaining their boats for much of that period. Fishermen from Rafah could fish, but were also subject to restrictions on access to their boats. Over the same period, total revenue generated by the Mawasi fishing industry dropped by more than two-thirds, forcing many fishermen to rely heavily on food assistance.

JAMAL PUTS TO SEA AGAIN

Since the settlers left the Gaza Strip, local Palestinians can return to enjoy the beaches. For the fishermen of Gaza, it also means they can return to work. Jamal Basela (48 years old) owns a sardine boat on Rafah Beach in the Gaza Strip. He has a wife and 10 children including two sons who work on the fishing boat with him. Since April he has been able to return to sea but his boat is in a poor state of repair since he was not permitted to maintain it over the past five years. Since putting to sea again, Jamal Basela must risk life and limb - the fishermen say they have been repeatedly shot at by the Israeli Navy, but have no choice but take this risk if they are to earn a living.

Jamal Basela would like to be able to repair his boat but cannot afford the total cost. The ICRC has agreed to fund part of the repairs including repairs to the hull and to replace fishing equipment. Jamal Basela is sharing some of the costs but is glad that the credit will allow him to finish the job: "My income will go up, because now, sometimes, in a single week I have to repair my boat 5 or 6 times because of problems with the hull or engine. Now instead of spending time repairing my boat, I will have enough money to repair the boat in one go".

Jamal's income fell drastically during the military presence of the Israelis since he was only allowed to fish for four hours a day. He also complains that he cannot reach the best fish shoals because of the fishing limit. Today, at the end of the sardine fishing season, he sets out to sea. He hires the fishermen who go with him plus small boats with lights which are used to attract the fish to the nets at dusk.

The sardine catch at this point in the season is small and sold at auction on the beach for re-sale in the local fish market. Israeli restrictions prevent the fishermen taking their catch out of Gaza to sell in other Palestinian territories, which greatly reduces the markets available to them.

Living within the Gaza Strip, Jamal Basela says he and his family have got used to the restrictions, and the on-going threat of attacks on their boats. His fear is not for his life, but that his boat might be confiscated - fishing is the only way he knows to earn a living. "The only thing we're afraid of is that they would take our boats away to Ashqelon - I would rather they take me than my boat!"

For further information, please contact:

Virginie Miranda, ICRC video news producer, tel.+41 22 730 25 11 or +41 79 251 93 14
Dorothea Krimitsas, ICRC Geneva, tel. + 41 22 730 25 90 or (mobile) + 41 79 251 93 18
Caspar Landolt, ICRC Jerusalem, tel. +972 2 582 88 45 or +972 57 773 52 35
Bana Sayeh, ICRC Jerusalem, tel. +972 2 582 88 45 or +972 57 880 91 93
Uriel Masad , ICRC Tel Aviv, tel. +972 35 24 52 86 or +972 57 347 75 27