What
is Al Rowwad Center
Al-Rowwad
Center is an Independent Center for artistic, cultural, and theatre
training for children in Aida Camp trying to provide a "safe"
and healthy environment to help children creativity and discharge
of stress in the war conditions they are forced to live in
Background
on Aida Camp - Bethlehem
Aida Refugee
Camp accommodates about 4,000 people (around 650 families) who
took refuge to it in 1948 and later in 1967 from 35 different
villages in Palestine as the result of the two Arab-Israeli wars.
This camp, like the other 21 camps in west bank and the 8 camps
in Gaza strip, as well as the other camps in Jordan, Lebanon and
Syria, was established with tents as an emergency and temporary
camp, but have been transformed to a permanent stage of refuge.
Since the problem of these refugees was not resolved, United Nations
began, in 1951, the construction of small houses made of one or
two rooms, and a small kitchen (rooms of 9-12 m2, and ~2 to 2,5
meters high). However after years and years of waiting, the refugees
could not live in these temporary shelters created by the UN.
Most of the shelters started to fall down. People, mostly poor
and not able to buy a piece of land outside the camp, started
reconstruction inside the camp of new houses. They became refugees
on their own land, in their own country. Since the space is very
limited in the camp, and no possibilities of horizontal expansion,
the construction expanded vertically. That's why the camp lacks
children corners and playgrounds where children could eventually
play. After 53 years of living in this refugee camp, as well as
for other refugees in other camps, people know that this is a
station in their life; they are still dreaming and asking for
the application of the UN resolutions concerning the right of
return to their own lands occupied and taken by Israeli state
in 1948 and 1967. Till now, the community international plays
the blind role concerning the Palestinian refugees.
Around 40% of its population is children under the age of 18,
with equal distribution between males and females. The camp has
two schools run by UNRWA, one for boys and another for girls (till
the end of preparatory classes- age 15). There is also a youth
center and a kindergarten run by the local community. The camp
is located at the northern border of Bethlehem. Its main entrance
is closed by cubes of cement, placed by the Israeli Army at Rachel's
Tomb (originally a mosque - Mosque of Bilal Ibn Rabah- and converted
into a synagogue in 1967), which composes a military observation
point next to the camp. The Gilo settlement, build mostly on the
lands of the Palestinian town of Beit Jala, which is bordering
the camp from the north and north west as well as the Rachel's
tomb observation point at the eastern side, both constitute a
serious threat to the people of the camp through frequent harassments,
shooting and shelling.
Aida Camp
in the new Intifada (since September 2000) :
Since October,
2000 till now, Aida camp has been the theatre for continuous suffering
from the Israeli shooting and shelling; more than 12 Palestinians
were killed, over 150 (around 80 of them are children) were injured,
and over 150 out of about 400 houses sustained damage ranging
between light to serious; most houses' water tanks have been damaged,
UNRWA schools were hit (photo) and several families were forced
to evacuate their houses. The destruction in the camps is huge,
and the help provided is so little. Winter was hard for some of
the families.
The situation
took another dimension with the new policy of the Israeli occupation
army: Reoccupation of palestinian cities.
August
2001
During the
period of 28-31 August 2001, the Israeli army entered Beit-Jala
and Aida camp causing major destruction to the infrastructure,
social and psychological. As a result of this reoccupation, around
27 persons were injured, eight of whom where children.
October
2001
The Israeli
aggressions renewed on different Palestinian cities and refugee
camps, including Beit-Jala and Bethlehem Area and principally
the two refugee camps of Aida and Beit-Gibrin. During the period
of aggressions (18th - 29th October 2001) a lot of destruction
has been done in the camps and the area. In Aida Camp, four appartments
were completely burned. Israeli soldiers have occupied 3 houses,
leaving a lot of destruction behind them, and steeling some of
the contents of these houses including electronics, jewellery
and money as reported by the owners of the houses, who were used
by Israeli soldiers as human shields. Israeli tanks and bulldozers
have also destroyed more than 6 houses; 6 cars were completely
crashed by the bulldozers. Four palestinians were killed. Israeli
soldiers used trained dogs equipped with video cameras to show
the way for the israeli soldiers (photo). More than 30 persons
were injured, 18 of whom were children.
March 2002
On March 8th,
of the year 2002, the Israeli missiles and the automatic gun machines
of the Apachi helicopters have transformed the asphalt in Aida
streets into a volcano… the floor was a boiling fire…
the fire escaped from the shelled cars and the bombarded houses….
The blood of innocent people and animals was irrigating the streets
and the floors of the houses hit… Israeli soldiers, of the
powerful army equipped with the highest and latest technologies,
hiding behind his heavy machines, started to dig the walls of
the houses, destroying the walls and opening tunnels between the
neighboring houses to pass from one house to the next, like moles…
These soldiers-mercenaries- were more thieves and brigands than
soldiers of a regular army.
After 11 days of reoccupation, four people massacred and more
than 20 injured, two of them were in a critical state. The demolitions
and material losses are over one million of dollars.
In this "war",
it was clear that Israeli army entered with a major purpose to
kill people and destroy the poor infrastructure in the camps and
the area, and to cause a lot of destruction where it passes. The
UNRWA schools were hit and largely damaged, the mosque, streets,
cars, houses, water tanks, electricity generators were all fully
or partially damaged.The camp was left without electricity and
without water almost for the entire period of invasion.
And again
on March 31st, the occupation army re-enters Bethlehem and force
the curfew all over the region. Schools and Universities, shops
and pharmacies were closed; hospitals impossible to be accessed,
streets were deserted except from the arrogant tanks, soldiers
carriers and bulldosers. Israeli soldiers have surpassed all "expectations"
and all their previous "achievments"… They killed,
and didn't allow the killed to be removed from the streets or
the houses. They injured people, and left those injured bleeding,
sometimes till death. No food or drugs were allowed where needed.
Sick people have to deal with their sickness alone… hospitals
were forbidden paradises… people, religious people and fighters
were held imprisonned in the church of the Nativity… The
siege lasted about 40 days.
May 2002
And finally,
on May 28th, of the year 2002, vandalism and barbaric achievements
of the soldiers of the Army of Occupation of the Democratic State
of Israel have hit Al-Rowwad center. Around 14:15, 12 soldiers
of the Occupation Army Al-Rowwad center. The house keeper, Mazen,
a temporary employee on the emergency program of the UNRWA was
arrested and beaten. Then, The respectable soldiers of the respectable
army of the respectable state of Israel began a full operation
of vandalism. They emptied all the drawers and shelves, threw
all the files and books on the floor, broke in pieces the JVC
video cameras we used for animation (rented cameras), and the
cameras children used to take photos. They emptied the oil, acrylic
and gouache paint tubes on the computers' screens, keyboards,
and all over the place, even the glasses and cubs and spoons.
Some furniture also was destroyed. One video camera, 2 computers,
a HiFi Chain, and some other things are missing.
Mazen was released after 2 days of arrestation. He was asked for
another meeting with the military israeli adminisrtration next
month.
Effects
on children
During these
hard times, and in all cases, children were the most to suffer.
Many children got traumatized, several of them were reported to
wet their beds, and the academic achievement of many others retreated,
their childhood has become a nightmare. This, in fact, is an added
serious complication to the poor condition of the social and cultural
infrastructure in the camp due to lack of safe and healthy playgrounds,
children's corners, green areas and other physical settings and
programs where creative activities could be organized for children.
Al-Rowwad
center in Aida:
In 1998, with
the help of some friends, I founded Al-Rowwad cultural and theatre
training center for the children in Aida Camp. In the beginning,
it was part of the youth center, where I was a member of the administration
board. However, with the beginning of the intifada, and due to
the dangerous location of the youth center as a point exposed
to shooting by the Israeli military points we thought of having
a safer place. So we rented a house, were we are now, in the middle
of the camp and that has 2 different entrances, for "safety
reasons". The center has two big rooms, one used for computer
training and art workshops, and the other as a library and theatre
training place. We have in the center 6 old computers (Pentium
II, 2 GB hard disk, 32 M Ram), and 1 Pentium 4 computer, 1000GHz,
30GB hard disk (which is out of service now).
We were also
donated some money so we bought some shelves and books. Still
a lot remains to be made.
Role of
Al-Rowwad During the Crisis
During the
four invasions of Bethlehem area (August 29-31, October 18-29
2001 and March 8-18, March 30-May 11th 2002), Al-Rowwad has been
transformed in an emergency clinic. In the beginning, I was carrying
my bag, with first aid emergency materials and try to help whenever
needed. No doctors were available in the camp. No clinic as well
is found.
In October
2001 invasion, Al-Rowwad and the popular committee of the camp
collected some drugs and first aid staff, fire extinguishers and
distributed them in 2 locations as emergency response points,
we also gathered all those who had first aid experience, nurses,
firemen etc, and had them ready. It was difficult, mostly impossible
for ambulances to make their way to the camp because of the curfew
by the tanks surrounding the camp. Al-Rowwad center was the main
emergency clinic and its staff were the organizers and executers
of all the emergency response plan. We made 3 first aid points
in the different parts of the camp, and supplied them with medicines
that we gathered or were donated to us.
In March the
same thing renewed, but we had already more experience in dealing
with the crisis.
During these
difficult times, Al-Rowwad Center has been transformed into an
emergency center. It became an emergency clinic for first aid
since ambulances couldn't easily enter the camp. It also became
a center for storage and distribution of food for families in
need, and specially milk for children, as well as bread. In collaboration
with the popular committee in the camp, intensive work was done
to meet the urgent needs in the camp, since the camp was completely
surrounded by Israeli tanks and snipers. We tried in collaboration
with different unions medical and agricultural to provide medicine
for the chronic sick people, old and young, especially those with
diabetes, tension and heart diseases. Through contacts with medical
relief, and Beit-Sahour clinic and others we could provide some
drugs for children and old people, as well as chronic cases in
the camp, like diabetes, heart, hypertension and others. Al-Rowwad
center collaborated with the Popular Committee in the camp to
find another place, to provide two locations for emergency clinics
in the camp.
And during
the 43 days siege of Bethlehem, Al-Rowwad was one of the most
active centers in Bethlehem area. Internationals from different
countries participated as human shields to protect the palestinian
civilians, to help accompany the ambulances whenever possible,
help transport food and drugs where needed. UNRWA has employed
a doctor for the emergency situation, and Al-Rowwad opened its
location for the emergency clinic, and for the internationals
who were in the camp and the region. The center worked 24 hours
a day. Media reports, contacts and communications with most of
the media and news agencies in the world… receipt by phone
of messages from internationals in the Mokata'a (Arafat compound)
were typed, translated from french to english or vice versa if
needed, and sent all over the world, press releases and contacts
with the besieged in the church as well, and the entrance of internationals
and provisions of food and drugs was in part done by Al-Rowwad,
in coordination with ISM activists and rapprochment center.
What was exceptional
in the forth invasion, is that the camp was not really attacked
though it was under curfew, and snipers were posted on high buildings
and they were shooting on the camp from time to time. UNRWA has
employed a doctor to stay during the crisis in Al-Rowwad, were
we have given our two main rooms for the clinic (field hospital).
So the media team, we gathered in my small office, and used my
personal laptop since the center's desktop, Pentium 4 has decided
to be out of service.
The other
exceptional thing is that we have groups of internationals who
came to the camp and who were human shield protecting the population
from Israeli assault (which explains the first exceptional thing)
and also because of their activity and help. We arranged ourselves
in 24 hours shifts to keep the world and journalists informed
by all the contacts we had, by telephone, mobiles, fax, and internet.
All those who received our messages have transmitted them as well
to others and so on. Though our main internet server was in Ramallah,
and was destroyed, the company has managed to make an emergency
server in Jerusalem, and so we remained connected. Part of the
camp was out of electricity and telephone, we were out of electricity
for about 36 hours, but we had a line from the neighbors, to keep
the center going on.
Given the
circumstances, Al-Rowwad with the volunteers from ISM and other
internationals(jews and non jews) have done an exceptional work,
and by these words they find our deepest admiration.
I think, during
this crisis we regret really one thing. Since all the place was
occupied by the clinic, which receive between 70 to 100 people
daily, who came not only from Aida camp, but from the neighboring
areas as well because they could not reach the main hospitals,
we could not provide a place for our children. The computers room,
was the waiting room, so they couldn't use them. And the library
was the doctor's clinic. We managed however to give them some
books to read, and also have 3 chess games, they could play with,
in the yard.
Al-Rowwad
Theatre is this. It surpasses its role, to cover the whole community.
It hopes to build it's own building. To buy a piece of land or
a house in the camp, and build on it a 4 floors building, were
in the first make a modern kindergarten, and a clinic, in the
second a computer center and a library, in the third a multipurpose
hall, that could be used for theatre performances as well, and
in the forth floor a sleeping place for guests…. It is a
dream and everybody can help us to realize it.
