Despite four years of prison and four years of unemployment afterwards, Jamal still had the energy and ambition to start his own small business in 1994/95. In the beginning he displayed his goods on the ground in the camp's market. Then in 1996, with a small business loan of US$1,000 from UNRWA's micro-enterprise programme in Gaza, he was able to rent a small shop in the market where he mainly sells children's clothes, make-up and other accessories. In the beginning business was going well, especially on Fridays, the weekly holiday, when the market is usually packed. Jamal successfully paid off the first loan and then a second loan of US$2,000. He recently took a third loan of US$4,000, but didn't bargain for the closures . . .

His business, like many others, is facing a crisis under the impact of Israeli-imposed closures on Gaza, and the tougher restrictions on Palestinian labourers entering Israel for work. Products he ordered and paid for in advance from merchants in the West Bank did not arrive in Gaza because of the closures. And he now faces competition from newer stalls. Most days he looks out despondently at the market. "Prices are going up in Gaza and conditions are getting worse . . . no one can buy anything these days." Was it a good idea to open the stall? "UNRWA's small business loans programme should continue. It is very helpful and creates jobs. But it would be better if they could be more flexible over the starting date for repaying the loan. Most people who take loans complain of this. You have to start paying off the loan immediately, and I need two months by the time I buy and sell the product to get some profit. This month I can't make the repayment."