Gaza's Extreme Poor Face Social Stigma
Already humiliated for relying on UN food rations, Gaza's extreme poor also find themselves ostracized from other parts of society.
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — In the neighborhood of al-Nasr to the west of Gaza, at the doorstep of a modest house with an asbestos roof, two young girls — Nasma, 12, and Abir, 7 — were seated with chunks of bread in their hands, silently watching a group of children play on an old swing.
Even though it was clear that both girls had an eager desire to join the children, they did not approach the swing.
Abir suddenly broke her silence and stood up to head toward the swing. Nasma, however, grabbed her by the hand to keep her from going, saying sternly, “I’ll tell mom.”
The two girls, who looked obviously poor, belong to a family that relies on food aid regularly provided by donors to the poor in Gaza. “My husband has been unemployed for seven years. We are relying on this aid, as they are our only source of food. Since we are living in a state of extreme poverty, we are shunned by our neighbors, who do not allow their children to play with mine,” their mother told Al-Monitor.
