News and Comments- Gaza Electricity Crisis.. Facts and Impacts

 News

GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- Officials at the Gaza Power Plant said the site's immanent shut down on Saturday morning was caused by the refusal of the Palestinain Authority to ship sufficient fuel into the coastal enclave. 
Source: Fuel shortage will see Gaza go dark

Comments

No words can explain the miserable situation of 1,700,000 Palestinians living in Gaza. The electrical crisis in Gaza seems to have no practical solution- adding more suffering to the lives of Gaza Strip residents who suffer from high rates of poverty and unemployment as well as living in an isolated geographical area. 

Happens in the 21st century !

Citizens cannot sleep, and take rest in the middle of this hot summer because there isn't electricity to run fans or air conditions. Students cannot study and do their homework due to the absence of lights and stable studying conditions. Workers and craftsmen cannot perform their jobs accurately because modern machines depend on electricity. Within such circumstances, it must be observed that it is not just electricity that goes out of Gaza society; it takes every electricity-dependant life need along with it such as affecting water, education, sanitation, and health services.

Electricity Oppression

This "Electricity Oppression" has affected and is affecting every aspect of Gaza residents' existence, such as economically, socially, ethically, and psychologically.

Economic Impacts

The economic situation of Gaza is already deteriorated. Along with an escalated electricity crisis, the lasted sources of income for some Gazans are facing the threats of stopping and closure. Also, Gazans found themselves to cover the costs of fuel to run generators as well as fixing them regularly.

Palestinians inspect generators for sale in Rafah, Gaza, on March 28, 2010.
 Power cuts in Gaza are growing more and more frequent due to lack of fuel.

Social and Ethical Impacts

The social life of Gaza residents is defaced by the continuing cut off of electricity. People's trust in the ruling systems is declining. Moreover, the situation is increasing the social gap between poor and rich people. It also promotes anti-human and anti-social practices such as the rising of black markets that benefit from keeping the status-quo in order to sell smuggled generators and fuel.

Psychological Impacts

The psychological behavior of huge numbers of people is becoming more aggressive. The feelings of depression and hope-losing are causing critical psychological impacts that produce troubled personalities. On the long term, such psychological impacts would result in high rates of misunderstanding, hatred, and even crime.

Responsibility

Several parties are responsible for this miserable situation- the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah wants to keep Hamas under the pressures of its coup's consequences. On the other hand, Hamas benefit from this crisis through keeping the status-quo to gain more legitimacy and solidarity under the slogan of Gaza siege. It is also Israel which contribute strongly in sustaining this crisis as a part of the collective punishment policy against Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip.