Thursday, August 24, 2006

Poverty threatens to blight new Palestinian school year

Agence France PResse
23 August 2006

KHAN YUNIS, Gaza Strip, Aug 23 2006

"I don't have the money to send my children to school," broods father-of-four Mohammed Abu Mur in depressed south Gaza. A Palestinian civil servant, he has not been paid for six months.

Like many other Palestinian parents facing the grim reality of worsening financial crisis in the Gaza Strip, he cannot afford books or uniforms to send his children back to the classroom after the long summer holidays.

"I don't know what to do. This year I can't buy anything for my children, not uniforms, books or school equipment" for the new term due to begin on September 2, says Abu Mur in the Khan Yunis refugee camp.

"I haven't been paid since March and I don't have any money to send my four children to school. Uniform and shoe-wise they could still use those from last year, but the books," he trails off.

It is not just Abu Mur who has gone unpaid. His children's teachers have also been without their salaries. Staff in state-run schools make up around a quarter of the 160,000 civil servants on the Palestinian Authority payroll who have received pratically no money since late February.

In protest, the teachers' union has announced that its members will not return to their classes in the Palestinian territories on September 2.

The European Union and United States suspended direct aid to the Palestinian Authority when Islamist party Hamas took office following an upset election win, citing its refusal to recognise Israel and renounce violence.

"I fear for my children as well as the others," said Abu Mur. "I'm frightened that they'll end up in the street."

Palestinians are currently among the most educated in the Middle East with literacy estimated at around 92.3 percent and an education drop-out rate of only 0.9 percent.

At the Abdullah Abu Sitta school in the depressed south Gaza town of Khan Yunis, teacher Hamam al-Faqawi is braced for a difficult start to the new academic year.

"Parents have to spend around 100 shekels (23 dollars) for their children's uniforms and shoes, and 100 shekels for books and school supplies. No one can do that," admits Faqawi, who teaches English.

"We are going to have to organise collections for those who cannot afford the uniforms, and for the books students can share."

In order to ease the parental burden, prime minister Ismail Haniya has reduced fees in state schools from the previous 60 shekels (14 dollars) to 20 shekels (4.5 dollars), although for many that is still too expensive.

Ziad Salman is the father of seven. "The school fees, plus expenses comes to more than 1,500 shekels (340 dollars) this year," he calculates.

"Therefore I've had to make do with last year's uniforms and then I borrowed money." A civil servant himself, he has only received one and a half month's salary since March -- around 680 dollars.

"There's cause for alarm. The situation has deteriorated seriously since last year," said Ali al-Farra, headmaster of Khan Yunis's Kamel Nasser Bey school and a member of the main teacher's union.

"People come and see me and complain about not being able to meet the costs of going back to school this year," he said.

"One pupil in two will experience difficulties in buying books, supplies and uniforms this year."

Israeli troops arrested education minister Nasseredine al-Shaer, who is also deputy premier, at the weekend, as part of a crackdown on the Hamas-led government after a deadly militant raid from Gaza on June 25.

Two Israeli soldiers were killed and a third captured by the gunmen, who included members of Hamas's armed wing, triggering a massive two-month offensive against the Palestinian territory.

"The worst thing," says Faqawi, is the effect on children's education and the risk that many parents will keep their children at home.

"Last year, pupils without uniforms were ordered out of class. This year I can't do that," he said.

207 comments:

1 – 200 of 207   Newer›   Newest»
Anonymous said...

buy valium online can you buy valium online no prescription - do valium 10mg look like

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol 100mg online tramadol ultram online - tramadol withdrawal+muscle aches

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol order+tramadol+online+in+florida - zaldiar tramadol hcl

Anonymous said...

generic tramadol tramadol dose for 40 lb dog - buy tramadol in missouri

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol tramadol for pain - buy tramadol hydrochloride

Anonymous said...

lorazepam no prescription ativan used high blood pressure - ativan vs xanax whats better

Anonymous said...

buy klonopin online no prescription klonopin online order - klonopin zoloft alcohol

Anonymous said...

tramadol buy tramadol dosage pets - buy tramadol online with echeck

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online buy ultram online no prescription overnight - buy tramadol online tennessee

Anonymous said...

ativan online apo-lorazepam 1mg how to take - apo lorazepam 1mg tablet

Anonymous said...

ativan sale 9 mg ativan - happens overdose ativan

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online mastercard overnight buy tramadol online cheap - buy tramadol legally online

Anonymous said...

generic ambien ambien detected drug screen - ambien dosage effects

Anonymous said...

klonopin online companies make generic klonopin - 1mg klonopin and alcohol

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online order tramadol overnight - buy ultram uk

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol no prescription tramadol to buy online in usa - tramadol dosage veterinary medicine

Anonymous said...

tramadol buy how to buy tramadol legally - tramadol online pharmacy no prescription needed

Anonymous said...

buy klonopin online buy klonopin online mastercard - klonopin withdrawal between doses

Anonymous said...

ambien without a rx cheapest place buy ambien cr - ambien side effects vertigo

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol tramadol addiction egypt - tramadol overdose bluelight

Anonymous said...

generic ambien ambien side effects kidney - buy ambien online overnight delivery

Anonymous said...

cheap ativan medicine lorazepam 1mg - ativan vicodin overdose

Anonymous said...

buy ambien online buy ambien europe - ambien side effects gerd

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online cod overnight tramadol no prescription free shipping - best place buy tramadol online reviews

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol saturday delivery normal dosage tramadol humans - order tramadol uk

Anonymous said...

tramadol no prescription buy tramadol cash on delivery - tramadol online with mastercard

Anonymous said...

buy ativan online buy ativan tablets - what is ativan dosage

Anonymous said...

cheapest ambien ambien half life body - will ambien show up military drug test

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol overnight tramadol online saturday delivery - mail order tramadol

Anonymous said...

order soma online online soma sales - soma generic price

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online buy tramadol online coupon - tramadol dosage

Anonymous said...

tramadol online neurontin and tramadol high - nebenwirkungen von tramadol 100mg

Anonymous said...

buy klonopin online klonopin .75mg - klonopin needed side effects

Anonymous said...

soma online buy soma cheap - soma good muscle relaxant

Anonymous said...

buy ambien online ambien side effects dry eyes - ambien drug test results

Anonymous said...

buy soma 350mg muscle relaxers list soma - buy soma online pharmacy

Anonymous said...

ambien for sale ambien not sleep - does generic ambien pills look like

Anonymous said...

viagra online can you buy viagra online yahoo answers - viagra online purchase canada

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol overnight delivery tramadol online coupons - tramadol dosage oral

Anonymous said...

buy viagra viagra online argentina - viagra homemade

Anonymous said...

cheap ambien no prescription ambien cr 10mg - ambien side effects with alcohol

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online mastercard overnight tramadol dosage instructions - buy tramadol online with mastercard

Anonymous said...

buy klonopin online .5mg klonopin for anxiety - klonopin for test anxiety

Anonymous said...

soma buy soma pills book - soma 350 mg pills

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online with mastercard buy tramadol online dogs - tramadol hcl for toothache

Anonymous said...

buy viagra generic online viagra to buy online uk - buy viagra houston

Anonymous said...

soma online buy soma intimates usa - buy soma hair products

Anonymous said...

klonopin without prescription much 2mg klonopin worth street - klonopin withdrawal treatment

Anonymous said...

klonopin pill will 2mg klonopin get you high - klonopin dosage colors

Anonymous said...

generic ambien ambien 80 mg - zolpidem er vs ambien cr

Anonymous said...

can you buy viagra online viagra use - buy viagra online org uk

Anonymous said...

buy soma 350mg soma medication cost - buy soma online pharmacy

Anonymous said...

order viagra generic buy viagra uk boots - viagra 35 years old

Anonymous said...

order tramadol online tramadol hcl usp monograph - buy tramadol online overnight fedex

Anonymous said...

buy ambien online no prescription ambien cr for sale - ambien 10mg wiki

Anonymous said...

order viagra prescription buy viagra online uk - viagra 75

Anonymous said...

ambien on line can you buy ambien mexico - ambien side effects muscle aches

Anonymous said...

buy viagra alternative buy viagra gel uk - how can i buy real viagra with no prescription

Anonymous said...

soma online soma medication identification - buy soma online without rx

Anonymous said...

buy zolpidem online ambien good sleeping pill - buy ambien cr 12.5

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online no prescription buy 300 mg tramadol - buy tramadol online no rx

Anonymous said...

buy soma 350mg 350mg carisoprodol generic soma - soma 250 muscle relaxer

Anonymous said...

buy cialis professional online safe place buy cialis online - cheap generic cialis online

Anonymous said...

buy viagra online cheap viagra fast shipping - buy viagra ebay

Anonymous said...

buy viagra buy viagra online yahoo answers - purchase viagra spain

Anonymous said...

purchase soma order soma online texas - soma in a drug test will it show

Anonymous said...

order real viagra online buy viagra online canadian pharmacy - can i buy viagra online legally

Anonymous said...

viagra online without prescription viagra online next day delivery - order viagra canada pharmacy

Anonymous said...

buy viagra cialis buy cheap viagra online us - viagra for women to buy

Anonymous said...

buy viagra online cheap drugs viagra - viagra dosage time

Anonymous said...

tramadol 50 tramadol depression - tramadol 500mg

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online tramadol withdrawal flu - tramadol withdrawal day 8

Anonymous said...

buy viagra online viagra reviews - buy viagra with paypal

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol tramadol 50 mg buy online - tramadol 50mg tablets identification

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online without a prescription tramadol 50mg tablets uses - tramadol hcl with tylenol

Anonymous said...

sildenafil 100mg cheap viagra in europe - buy viagra canada no prescription

Anonymous said...

viagra sale buy viagra paypal accepted - purchase viagra with paypal

Anonymous said...

cialis online pharmacy best place buy cialis online uk - cialis+online drugstore

Anonymous said...

buy propecia online propecia withdrawal - 5 mg propecia generic

Anonymous said...

how to buy cialis buy cialis online from canada - generic cialis online pharmacy reviews

Anonymous said...

buy viagra online overnight viagra dosage results - does viagra work on young men

Anonymous said...

cialis online get cialis online pharmacy - can you buy cialis online with no prescription

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol india tramadol hcl drug test - buy tramadol hydrochloride

Anonymous said...

buy propecia online buy propecia discount - best quality generic propecia

Anonymous said...

generic cialis cialis coupon free - generic cialis reviews

Anonymous said...

sildenafil online buy viagra online yahoo answers - buy-viagra-uk.net

Anonymous said...

buy cialis in usa buy cialis online - cialis online in the usa

Anonymous said...

buy viagra safe buy viagra online canada - who sells generic viagra to canada

Anonymous said...

buy finasteride online is generic propecia effective - propecia.jp

Anonymous said...

retin-a online retin a acne flare up - buy retin a gel 0.1

Anonymous said...

tramadol online tramadol hcl percocet - tramadol online no prescription

Anonymous said...

cheap tramadol tramadol hcl generic ultram - tramadol withdrawal bad

Anonymous said...

order tramadol online without prescription tramadol used get high - tramadol online no rx

Anonymous said...

propecia mg where to buy propecia and rogaine - propecia cost south africa

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol with paypal difference between tramadol for dogs and humans - tramadol hcl info

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol tramadol zoloft together - what does tramadol 50 mg do to you

Anonymous said...

order propecia online propecia hair regrowth - propecia side effects numbness

Anonymous said...

buy retin how to use retin-a cream 0.05 - retin a cream tretinoin 0.025

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol tramadol recreational high - what does tramadol high feel like

Anonymous said...

retin a online pharmacy retin a buy cheap - buy retin a cream no prescription

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online tramadol normal dosage - tramadol 50mg norsk

Anonymous said...

tramadol 50mg tramadol dosage for small dogs - purchase tramadol online cod

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol buy tramadol in us - tramadol 50 mg equivalent

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online buy tramadol online by cod - tramadol high vs hydrocodone

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online tramadol buy - tramadol hcl apap

Anonymous said...

buy propecia online propecia 1mg or 5mg - propecia without prescription

Anonymous said...

cheap strattera strattera adhd medicine - strattera side effects weight

Anonymous said...

tramadol cheap tramadol qt interval - order tramadol online no prescription overnight

Anonymous said...

tramadol 50mg tramadol hcl is it addictive - cheap tramadol online usa

Anonymous said...

buy propecia online buy cheap propecia online - propecia side effects benefits

Anonymous said...

tramadol 50 mg tramadol 50 mg half life - best high tramadol

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol tramadol 50mg does it get you high - tramadol online cod payment

Anonymous said...

tramadol 50mg buy tramadol online cod overnight - tramadol online no prescription needed

Anonymous said...

tramadol no prescription overdose on tramadol the effects - what does tramadol 50 mg do to you

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol tramadol kick in time - buy tramadol cash on delivery

Anonymous said...

generic viagra online viagra online us - viagra online men

Anonymous said...

buy cialis how well does cialis daily work - generic cialis 20 mg canada

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol tramadol order online tramadol 50mg - xymel 50mg tramadol hydrochloride

Anonymous said...

tramadol no prescription buy tramadol no prescription 100 mg - tramadol hcl 50 mg picture

Anonymous said...

viagra online without prescription best quality generic viagra - purchase real viagra online

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol order tramadol on line - tramadol online no prescription uk

Anonymous said...

tadalafil tablets buy cialis pills - cialis online coupon code

Anonymous said...

cialis pills buy cheap cialis line - cialis online paypal

Anonymous said...

tramadol online can buy tramadol mexico - buy tramadol overnight delivery

Anonymous said...

cheap viagra online generic viagra 100mg price - online order of viagra

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol tramadol hcl tylenol - buy tramadol cod next day delivery

Anonymous said...

order viagra viagra online pharmacy europe - viagra buy safe

Anonymous said...

viagra online without prescription buy generic viagra no prescription - viagra online order

Anonymous said...

generic cialis cialis 60 tablet - buy cialis soft online

Anonymous said...

generic viagra can you buy viagra online us - viagra online quick delivery

Anonymous said...

cheapest viagra how to buy viagra online legally - buy viagra xanax

Anonymous said...

order cialis online cialis price shoppers drug mart - adcirca vs cialis price

Anonymous said...

viagra online without prescription jual viagra online - viagra online us

Anonymous said...

viagra online without prescription viagra online real fake - generic viagra testimonials

Anonymous said...

order viagra buy viagra online cheap us - buy viagra online us

Anonymous said...

viagra online without prescription cheap viagra melbourne - best place buy viagra us

Anonymous said...

cheapest cialis cialis quickly does work - new daily cialis

Anonymous said...

buy cialis buy cialis 20 - buy cialis boots

Anonymous said...

generic cialis generic cialis soft tabs - generic cialis canada online pharmacy

Anonymous said...

cialis medication cialis mexico - order cialis usa

Anonymous said...

order cialis no prescription cialis 20mg online - generic cialis rip-off

Anonymous said...

generic cialis generic cialis dapoxetine - cialis online satis

Anonymous said...

cialis online canada order cialis online mastercard - cheap cialis nz

Anonymous said...

order viagra cheap viagra soft - is the viagra for women

Anonymous said...

generic cialis cialis online sale - female cialis reviews

Anonymous said...

cheap viagra equivalent of viagra for women - legitimate online pharmacy viagra

Anonymous said...

cialis online pharmacy cialis 100mg. online - cheap cialis one day

Anonymous said...

order soma online soma no prescription arizona - soma smoothie sale

Anonymous said...

buy soma online soma 350 mg muscle relaxer - generic name for soma

Anonymous said...

viagra online buy generic viagra online overnight - buy viagra jelly

Anonymous said...

viagra online viagra online scams - purchase viagra delhi

Anonymous said...

buy soma online where to buy soma overnight - buy soma usa

Anonymous said...

buy soma online soma quill stem adapter - where to buy soma panties

Anonymous said...

buy soma online buy soma puzzle - soma online music

Anonymous said...

soma drug buy soma online mastercard - soma promotion code

Anonymous said...

buy soma online soma muscle relaxer and vicodin - buy soma online without

Anonymous said...

soma online soma drug description - soma medication facts

Anonymous said...

discount soma soma quill riser - soma intimates online coupons

Anonymous said...

soma online soma medication mechanism action - somafm groove salad

Anonymous said...

buy soma what is soma 350 mg used for - soma pill

Anonymous said...

order soma buy somatropin-x3gh - buy soma no prescription

Anonymous said...

discount cialis generic cialis manufacturers us - cialis online no prescription

Anonymous said...

order retin-a online retin a cream generic - retin-a micro gel and pregnancy

Anonymous said...

buy soma soma san diego california - i love soma pills

Anonymous said...

soma drug buy somatropin usa - cheap soma online

Anonymous said...

buy soma soma 350 mg abuse - buy soma online without

Anonymous said...

buy soma soma medication online - watch deadly soma online

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online no prescription cheap buy tramadol 6914 - tramadol overdose medscape

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol with paypal tramadol withdrawal high blood pressure - tramadol online in uk

Anonymous said...

buy retin a retin a cream for face - buy retin a 0.05 online pharmacy

Anonymous said...

tramadol no rx safest place buy tramadol online - tramadol hcl er

Anonymous said...

tramadol 50mg tramadol 50 mg with alcohol - venta tramadol online

Anonymous said...

buy cialis online generic cialis from us safe - cialis 5mg daily reviews

Anonymous said...

cheap tramadol tramadol dose get high - order tramadol online safely

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol tramadol hcl neuropathy - tramadol 50mg uk

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online buy tramadol online usa - tramadol 50mg vs vicodin 5mg

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol without prescriptions tramadol online missouri - get high tramadol hcl 50mg

Anonymous said...

buy retin a retin a for wrinkles around mouth - retin a gel 0.1 review

Anonymous said...

tramadol no rx tramadol abuse - tramadol high similar

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol hcl tramadol hcl msds - buy tramadol mexico

Anonymous said...

retin a gel retin a long term effects - buy retin a micro online

Anonymous said...

buy discount tramadol order tramadol online mastercard - buy tramadol online illegal

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online generic equivalent tramadol - tramadol with suboxone

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol medication buy tramadol using mastercard - get tramadol online no prescription

Anonymous said...

cheap tramadol purchase tramadol in uk - tramadol y el embarazo

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online cod tramadol overdose level - tramadol for dogs pet meds

Anonymous said...

cheap tramadol buy tramadol without a script - buy ultram 200mg

Anonymous said...

tramadol online overnight tramadol mg get high - tramadol shot

Anonymous said...

xanax online xanax 902 - does 1mg xanax do you

Anonymous said...

tramadol online order tramadol online next day - buy cheap tramadol online cod

Anonymous said...

best buy tramadol order tramadol pay cod - buy tramadol without script

Anonymous said...

tramadol online overdose on tramadol hcl - tramadol dosage dogs bone cancer

Anonymous said...

xanax online xanax 1mg - generic xanax s 900

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol buy tramadol online tennessee - tramadol 50 mg snort

Anonymous said...

alprazolam online how much xanax and alcohol will kill you - what is xanax for

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online tramadol buy online florida - taking 100mg tramadol

Anonymous said...

xanax for anxiety xanax effects on dogs - xanax side effects back pain

Anonymous said...

generic tadalafil generic cialis online us - cialis jelly sachet

Anonymous said...

order alprazolam xanax side effects in men - methadone xanax high

Anonymous said...

cialis pills cialis daily wiki - buy cialis online overnight shipping

«Oldest ‹Older   1 – 200 of 207   Newer› Newest»