Editor’s Note: Read the letter from Gaza women sent to Flint women to mark International Women’s March 8, 2016 at the height of the Flint water crisis. It demonstrates the power of women in raising their voices as they go through the crises then and now.
MECA staff (Middle East Children’s Alliance) in Gaza are among the writers and signatories of the letter. “We believe this message is an important way to mark International Women’s Day.”
Dearest Women in Flint,
On International Women’s Day, we, the Palestinian women living under Israeli occupation, announce our solidarity and extend our compassion to you. We understand what you are going through because we face similar hardships in Gaza.
Access to clean and healthy water is a basic right according to international law and agreements. But many people are still fighting to achieve this right. For example, we are living in the Gaza Strip and are suffering a lot and struggling to get clean and healthy water. The Israeli occupation steals our water from the aquifers, controls our water resources, and does not allow us to access the clean water in the West Bank or to build water treatment facilities. Sea water, waste water, and other pollutants contaminate our water leading to sickness and death. This forces us to choose to buy clean water at unaffordable prices or to provide other basic necessities for our families. We know you face these impossible choices too.
In Gaza, we survived three brutal wars in six years and we have lived more than 10 years under harsh economic conditions as a result of the Israeli siege imposed on the Gaza Strip. The poverty and unemployment reached unbelievable levels. Because what we have been through, we know and we understand what you are going through. It is sad, it is tough.
Disease is spreading among our children because of the polluted water in Gaza and Flint. We know what you are going through. We understand your sadness and helplessness. And we want you to know that you are not alone. We are standing with you until all of us overcome this crisis and access our right as humans to clean water for ourselves, our families, and our communities. We are standing with you as we struggle to hold the governments and private companies accountable for poisoning our children.
Our hearts and full compassion are with you.
Signed by mothers, activists, students, workers and leaders in the Palestinian community in Gaza:
Mona El-Farra
Safaa El-Derawi
Sana Al-Mashal, Red Crescent Society of the Gaza Strip
Nehaya Abu Nahla, Qattan Center
Jamila Dalloul, Olive Roots
Women of Afaq Jadeeda Association
Women of Sanabel Society
Leila Nassar
Iktamal Al-Ayla
Randa Martja
Maha Abu Zur
Niveen Madi
Maha Al-Aqed
Mariam Shaqura
Fayrouz Al-Asar
Fayrouz Arefa
Amahl Siyam
Nadia Abu Nahla
Zayneb Al-Ghanimi
Jehan Al-Aklok
Zahra Al-Bas
Ferdos Al-Ktri
Marian Abu Duqa
Maha Al-Farra
Nadia Al-Farra
Mona Al-Madhun
Dunya Al-Aml Ismail
Maysr Abd
Lily Qarmot
Samira Al-Ayla
Suha Mousa
Sabah Abu Reda
Nahla Al-Bader Sawi
Mariam Al-Farra
Mariam Abu Awda
Mada Abu Khattab
Inam Mousa
Ghadeer Shat
Raja Bseso
Araksi Wahed
Rosette Nasrawi
Sabhia Al-Jamal
Isaf Al-Borno
Layla Qlibo
Mariam Al-Derawi
Haneen Al-Derawi
Wafa Al-Derawi
Intima Al-Masri
Hadeel Al-Said
Mona Hammad
Manal Maqdad
Safa Maqdad
Manal Abu Ayesha
Nisreen Abed
Ibtisam Maqdad
Lina Abu Hamra
Haneen Al-Samak
Fadwa Taqish
Zaynab Al-Daghma
Sabah Al-Qara
Rana Abu Ramadan
Hanan Abu Ramadan
Huda Abu Ramadan
Besan Abu Hameed
Haya Al-Agha
Sana Al-Klut
