gaza 4

 pictures can be seen on:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=209204&l=21b0d&id=849250017
 

In the morning we work in a school for children that cannot hear and
that come from all over Gaza.The school is supported by a german
mission and in a really good state. Older students are working in
handcrafts like carpenter, broadery and pottery.
We work witht 250
children in different groups. First I am really afraid that I cannot
deal with this children, but when I start with my group I immediatly
enjoy the language.
After the children session we have a session
with the teachers that have a lot of questions. Everyone is thankful
that we are there.
We explain a bit what we are doing and why and there is an understanding between us and the teachers.
We drive with 2 taxies to the place where once was the village the Samouni Family had there houses.

I
am in one of the houses still standing. Fadhi, a friend of me is there
and translates. Tarek is telling his story that is as horrible as all
the others. Then he holds a picture towards me. His eyes are looking at
me. I take the picture from his hand. 3 children are laying there-dead.
A baby has the eyes still open, a 5 years old bleeding at his head, a
11 years old having to bullet wholes in his chest. I cannot control
anymore, I have tears in my eyes because I feel so helpless towards
this father. What shall I tell him? I know for him it is already good
that I listen to him.

When I am behind the camera I can
keep distance from the pain that the people carry here. I can see the
pain and picture it, but I do not connect to it.
I go through the
detruits and a woman with a girl comes to me. we start talking but I do
not understand everything. I feel that she needs to talk and I sit down
next to her and the child. She tells me that the girl lost her parents
and that she takes care of the child now.
I take my camera and i
focus on the girls face...she is looking in my direction, but she is
looking through me. I take a serie of pictures and ask myself: why do I
take this pictures now?
I take the womans hand. I ask her what she
gonna do now. What is her hope for the future. She just says: what
shall we do? what shall we do? Allah will help us!