Gaza Crisis Halts Operation of Fair Trade Projects

by Zarah Patriana

Published January 09, 2009 @ 08:10AM PT

Just received word from Jerusalem-based Fair Trade organization, Sunbula, regarding some partner groups who have been affected by the conflict in Gaza. Sunbula works with marginalized Palestinian craft producers in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and Israel to generate much-needed income through the sale of their traditional crafts. Since 1996, Sunbula has supported women's cooperatives and self-help groups by providing assistance through marketing, market access, product design, development, technical skills, organizational and finance management and the acquiring of grants.

One of the groups that Sunbula works with is Atfaluna Crafts, which is an income-generation project of the Atfaluna Society for Deaf Children based in Gaza. Atfaluna devotes itself to education and services of those with hearing disabilities. The general population in Gaza already experience marginalization, however those living with hearing disabilities face even less opportunities for employment or education.

Atfaluna Crafts was born out of the need for vocational training for hearing-impaired adults, in addition to literacy programs.  The participants themselves decided to turn the vocational program into an income-generation project, run primarily by deaf adults to produce and market quality, creative Palestinian crafts, home accessories and furniture.

Since its inception, the project has benefited 68 women and men with hearing disabilities in the Gaza Strip through embroidery, carpentry, ceramics, weaving and painting. However, since the attacks began in late December, the project has been closed and communication between Atfaluna and organizations outside of the Gaza Strip have been difficult. Thankfully, Sunbula was finally able to hear from Atfaluna the other day. Atfaluna Executive Director, Mohamed Elsharif reports:

...The situation remains extremely difficult as you probably know. We haven't had electricity for 8 days in a row, people are standing for hours to get food and water.  We are still unable to go back to work because of the continue[d] air strikes. Atfaluna building was severely damaged due to a huge bombing next door, almost all windows got shattered, luckily there was no fire. I attached some pictures... We haven't been able to get any threads or fabrics for more than six months now... Let's hope for this situation to end soon.

Sunbula will continue to update us on the situation with their Fair Trade partners in the Gaza Strip. Once I hear more information, I will be sure to share it with you all. Subula is also thinking up ways to help recover losses and damages.

In the meantime, Sunbula encourages those of us who want to provide immediate support to humanitarian efforts in Gaza to look into the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).