Fish and smelly waters
ANERA is not only engaged in water, sewage and milk. Amongst the many projects there are two that deals with micro credits – small loans to farmers, fishermen and businesspeople. Today I had the pleasure to visit several projects. Although the hardship and crashed economy of Gaza has made it difficult for some to pay back their loans, there are also success stories.
In the afternoon, Femke and me had the pleasure of joining Nedal to some of his beneficiaries. He is an ANERA employee working for IFAD – a UN-supported micro credit program. Our first stop was the fishing port of Gaza City. Here, a number of colorful fishing boats was fighting for our attention together with the strong stench of sewage. The boats were beautiful (and we both love the sea, harbors and boats), but the smell overwhelming. It turned out that there was a pipeline pumping out raw sewage straight into the port. Yuk. And of course, next to the skull-and-bone-marked sewage pipe, there were boys fishing.
But we were here to meet Nafez, a 47-year old man who has been fishing all his life. Through several loans he has managed to get a small boat, an outboard engine, a bigger boat and a winch to that boat. He now employs ten persons onboard his little fishing fleet. And although life is tough and catches dwindling, he cannot live without the sea. “I come here every day, even if it is not possible to go out and fish”, he explains his relationship to the boat. Right now he was fishing sardines, but depending on season, he also goes for tuna, calamari and other goodies. Despite the smell, we had a great time with Nafez and Nedal. Just being onboard a boat was a relief after all the landlocked time.
Fish and smelly waters
tisdag 24 juli 2007
