The group of three young men selling fruit on the coastal road west of Deir al-Balah in central Gaza Strip is an example of the continuing struggle with the obstacles of life in the besieged enclave.
Moving from the professions of fishing driving cars construction and agriculture they found themselves forced to earn their living by selling fruits to vehicles crossing between the north and south of the Gaza Strip in Deir al-Balah.
The unemployment rate in the Gaza Strip was 50% in 2017 with more than two thirds of the population of Gaza under the poverty line with the intensification of the siege and successive crises in the coastal enclave.
A new profession every day
For the 25-year-old Ahmed al-Jumaili he finds himself forced from one week to another to change his profession to earn his living and support his family including his wife daughter and a baby to be born soon.
He told the PIC reporter “I studied restoration of buildings and found no work. I worked as a driver a construction worker and a worker at coffee and biscuit factories in addition to working in smuggling goods at the border tunnels and today I ended up working as a vendor at the coastal road.”
Al-Jumaili says that unemployment and the siege deprived young people of jobs yet he did not surrender and continued carrying out his attempts to earn a living. His daily program begins every day by collecting fruit with his friend then taking it to the coastal road.
“If I do not work I will not get a penny. We have been in Gaza for years and some days are good and some are bad but I don’t give up and leave every day from six AM and go back home by sunset.”
The five-year-old selling point made passers-by and beach visitors know Ahmed Al-Astal 25 who brings his goods every morning from Khan Younis to Deir al-Balah.
In the past Al-Astal being a farmer who inherited his father’s profession and his grandfather’s land would not come out of his orchard but today he is forced to adapt to the deterioration of the economic conditions in the Gaza Strip and resort to the buying and selling goods.
He adds “We have 16 dunums of Guava and another fruit which became ripe earlier than expected. Its price is 10-15 NIS per kilo. Otherwise I sell whatever available. As you see today I have with me orange coconut and dates.”
He bears the suffering of standing for long hours in the cold weather by the beach. The drivers and customers know him and his point of sale which became known after his name.
He continued: “I know that the conditions of young people are difficult but it is possible that young people earn their livelihood with honor by selling and buying stuff to make a living without needing anyone’s help. I have a boy and a girl and I am forced to support them.”
A Fisherman
Years ago fisherman Ahmad Kloub knew Ahmad Al-Astal and after getting to know him well he started selling fruits next to him when the sea tides get big.
“I am a fisherman but there is not much fishing” he told the PIC. “I have not been able to continue my university study because of the lack of money needed for fees and transportation.”
From time to time Kloub leaves his friend on the coastal road and ploughs the sea especially after the end of storms which is followed by the emergence of fish as the sea changes from raging to calm water.
Every day the three young men make the same trip to the coastal road bringing their fruits despite the cold weather hoping to earn some living.
