By: Raed Al Nims
Despite having lost 70% of his vision, Abou Imad al Omoor (67) lived a happy life surrounded by his wife, children and grandchildren who would play in the courtyard of their big house in the “European” neighborhood to the East of Khan Younes. Abou Imad would sip his coffee every morning and listen to his grandchildren play in their sun-bathed garden.
As 2014 neared its end, Abou Imad’s life turned into a nightmare when his house was bombarded during the Israeliassault on the Gaza Strip. Nobody was hurt as the family had already evacuated the house which lies close to the eastern borders. A few days later, during an Israeli incursion, the house, as well as all its furniture, were leveled to the ground.
After the war ended, Abou Imad returned to his neighborhood only to find that his home had disappeared. When one of his grandchildren asked him “where did our house go, grandpa”?, he felt a wave of pain wash over him. He patted the child’s head and remained silent.
Abou Imad gathered metal sheets, wooden boards and tarpaulin in order to build a shelter for his sick wife, children and grandchildren. He built three makeshift tents: one acted as a living room, the second as a kitchen and the third as a bathroom. Days then months went by, with the family living in these tents for lack of a better solution. Abou Imad still awaits to be housed in a proper house.
When winter started with its load of floods and cold spells, the family’s suffering doubled. Abou Imad’s tears fell down like the rain outside as he watched his flooded tents and felt completely helpless. Then one day, Jihad (6), one of his grandchildren, rushed in to see him and said: “Grandpa, there are people outside asking for you. They are from PRCS”. Abou Imad stepped outside slowly and was followed by his family. A team from PRCS informed them that they were responding to an emergency appeal they had received regarding the living conditions of the family. A few minutes later, the team was surveying the area, taking down notes and assessing the family’s situation and its most basic needs. Abou Imad smiled when his granddaughter Fatima (11) whispered in his ear: “they brought us new mattresses, many covers and blankets, schoolbags, tarpaulin sheets, tents and other supplies”.
Before leaving, a member from the PRCS’ team said to Abou Imad: “We wish you safety and good health. We shall stay in touch and will help you face these difficult weather conditions”. These few words meant the world to Abou Imad and the visit by PRCS provided a great boost to his morale. He stood holding the hand of one of his grandchildren and watching the Society’s vehicles drive away. A few days earlier, he had felt so alone. But now he has understood that he is surrounded by many people who care.
Abou Imad, due to his poor vision, could not see the smile on his grandchildren’s faces. But he could feel it and hear it in their voices and in the excitement with which they received the new supplies brought to them by the team of PRCS’ volunteers.
End.
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