Kamil el Shami, project coordinator at the SOS Children's Village in Deir Sultan, around 15 km from Rafah, says that everyday life has been noticeably affected by the renewed political and military tension in the Gaza Strip. There is a power cut for six hours every day. The SOS Children's Village is able to overcome this by using its own generator during that time.
Fear and great uncertainty prevail in the area around the SOS Children's Village. SOS mothers who are on holiday have been asked to return to their children at the SOS Children's Village. Most of the summer activities that had been planned for the children over the holidays have had to be cancelled as a result of the instability.
A week's worth of food, medication and fuel was stored at the SOS Children's Village. It will not be possible to stock up for longer as a result of a general food and fuel shortage. Kamil el Shami says that all crossings into the Gaza Strip have been closed; bombs are being dropped on the bridges that link northern and southern Gaza. He says that the people are having great problems obtaining electricity, because some of the generators in Gaza have been destroyed.
"Staff and children at SOS Children's Village Rafah hope and pray that the situation will not escalate and that the region will see peace again", said Kamil el Shami.