UNRWA provides young fishermen with mechanic skills - UNRWA press release

UNRWA PROVIDES YOUNG FISHERMEN WITH MECHANIC SKILLS

As a result of the blockade and related access restrictions 3,000 fishermen in Gaza do not have access to 85 per cent of the maritime areas agreed in the 1995 Oslo Accords. This has strongly reduced the fish catch in Gaza, once a principal part of the Gaza diet, and affected the livelihoods of fishermen.

UNRWA supports fishermen in Gaza through its Job Creation Programme (JCP) and through the UNRWA Gaza Training Centre (GTC). Recently, the GTC, in agreement with the Gaza Syndicate of Marine Fishers, has launched short-term vocational training courses to support young fishermen. Courses are offered in external fishing engine maintenance, electrical networks installation and maintenance, and electricity generator maintenance.

"15 years ago, the sea was generous with us. Now we risk our lives for nothing. But we all want to hold on to this profession; fishing and the sea is in our blood. I participated in the engines maintenance training because I wanted to help myself. I used to take the engine to a maintenance workshop in Gaza but this was very costly. I also hope that this training might open a new source of income for me and for my family," said 33-year old fisherman Husam Abdallah Al Absi who also holds a Bachelor degree in accounting.

“I started working as a fisherman 15 years ago when the situation was very different. Fishing was a joy for us; it was exhausting but we knew we would risk our lives for a good outcome. Now, there is no space, no freedom to fish, no good outcome,” commented 27-year old fisherman Faris Sami Al Aqra’a from Deir El Balah who also holds a nursing diploma. “Usually, we face a lot of troubles with our boats and this training helps us to be able to fix them ourselves and thus save a lot of money and time. It is really a great help for us; the UNRWA trainers are well qualified and acquainted,” he added.

Each course includes 10 trainees selected by the Syndicate; most of them hold a university degree in a different subject but work as fishermen to honour their family businesses, or most often because of the crippled Gaza economy and the difficulty in finding any other job. The courses are technically and financially supported by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and implemented during the summer vacation. Each participant receives a tool kit in the end of the training.

"Today, it is difficult to enter the sea due to the many restrictions imposed by Israel. Fishermen in Gaza are impoverished and cannot even afford the most basic for their families. This training is exactly what we need; it allows us to be self-sufficient, to help ourselves and build up our capacities. We also save a lot of time and money since we do not have to call for assistance to fix the engines of our boats," commented 23-year old fisherman Sameer Basla who finished a Bachelor degree in journalism but works as a fisherman to at least have some sort of income and to step into his father's and grandfather's shoes and honour the family tradition.
In addition, since 2006, 3,004 unskilled and 46 skilled fishermen have received JCP contracts through UNRWA. In April 2015, in cooperation with the fishermen syndicate, UNRWA renewed its support by providing short-term job opportunities to two groups of 200 unskilled fishermen for three months, in addition to six skilled foremen. The JCPs work mostly in the sector of net rehabilitation and general repair works.

"I dreamed about continuing my university education, but my living conditions did not allow me to. Therefore, I started to work with my father at the sea," said 27-year old Nidal Al Najaar from Beach Camp in Gaza city who also holds a financial accounting diploma. "The engine is the life of the boat, and the boats are our main work tool; knowing all the details about it will help us to avoid troubles in the future. I already helped my neighbours fix their boat engines. They were very happy with that and I gained customers," he added.
“It is important to support fishermen since fishing has become one of the most marginalised professions in Gaza; fishermen today are unable to provide their families with a decent life. I wish all fishermen in Gaza could attend this training, which could help them to find alternative sources of income,” said 31-year old fisherman Marwan Al Nada from Rafah who also holds Bachelor degree in Political Science.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

UNRWA is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions, and financial support has not kept pace with an increased demand for services caused by growing numbers of registered refugees and deepening poverty. As a result, the UNRWA General Fund, which supports core essential services and most staffing costs, operates with a large deficit. UNRWA emergency programmes and key projects, also operating with large deficits, are funded through separate funding portals.

UNRWA is a United Nations agency established by the General Assembly in 1949 and mandated to provide assistance and protection to some 5 million registered Palestine refugees. Its mission is to help Palestine refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, West Bank and the Gaza Strip achieve their full human development potential, pending a just solution to their plight. UNRWA services encompass education, health care, relief and social services, camp infrastructure and improvement, and microfinance.

For more information, please contact:

Christopher Gunness

Spokesperson, Director of Advocacy & Strategic Communications

Mobile: +972 (0)54 240 2659

Office: +972 (0)2 589 0267

c.gunness@unrwa.org

Sami Mshasha

Chief of Communications & Arabic Language Spokesperson

Mobile: +972 (0)54 216 8295

Office: +972 (0)2 589 0724

s.mshasha@unrwa.org

Milina Shahin