Gaza: Left in the Dark

[Jefferson23]

Constant power outages mean the people of Gaza are forced to live much of their lives off the grid.

Al Jazeera World Last Modified: 09 Jan 2013 04:24


Life in Gaza is not easy amid constant power outages caused by limited electricity supplies and fuel shortages.

Gaza is in the midst of an acute power crisis, with blackouts lasting for up to 12 hours and a shortage of generator fuel.


Abdul Aziz Abu Safiea, who works for the Gaza Electricity Distribution Company, says: "It's a strange job that only exists in Gaza. I cut the power off and reconnect it according to a set timetable.

"I cut off the power to every home in Gaza for at least eight hours every day. Every second, one-third of Gaza's population is without electricity."

in full: http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/aljazeeraworld/2013/01/20131710543138417.html

[oberliner]

1. Egypt suffers power outage, could face 'dark winter' due to fuel crisis

More than 15 nationwide power stations have halted electricity generation on Thursday due to shortages of fuel such as diesel, natural gas and mazut, the Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company (EETC) said.

"The fuel ran dry, leading to the reduction of around 3000 mega watt of the daily electricity capacity for the first time ever," EETC said, according to Al-Ahram daily newspaper.

Sources familiar with the matter told Al-Ahram that if the fuel production crisis does not end soon "half of Egypt's governorates will plunge into darkness".

Fuel shortage in power plants has led to hours-long blackout in several governorates on Thursday, including capital Cairo, Suez, Beheira and Alexandria.

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/3/12/61427/Business/Economy/Egypt-suffers-power-outage,-could-face-dark-winter.aspx

[delrem]

4. Egypt is not Gaza.

I think it's disgusting that you'd willfully disregard the fact that Gaza is under siege. That Gaza has been subject to continuous Israeli war "operations" starting from the time when ethnic cleansing forced over half of Gaza's population to take refuge there.

There's a point when all there is to say is "you SOB".

If you agree with the siege on Gaza OK, you can defend/explain the justice of it. But to both agree with the siege and to willfully disregard the consequences of it in your attempts to explain reality? That's totally beyond the pale.

[King_David]

5. 'ethnic cleansing '

Your too much man.

Manufacture history much?

[Scootaloo]

8. Ahhhhh. Nakba denial.

There's that Israeli progressivism speaking again.

[delrem]

10. I've been discussing this topic in terms of RoR in other threads.

The pro-Israeli side has yet to put forth an argument from reason, and refuses to acknowledge the most basic facts either about the Palestinian refugee situation or about international humanitarian law. The pro-Israeli side refuses to acknowledge that there're such people as "protected persons" (civilians) in war - but insists on categorizing all Palestinian Arabs as enemy combatants, in effect describing Israel as being at war with the indigenous Arab *people*. It is absolutely clear that the Jewish Israeli State is engaged in a long-term project of ethnic cleansing along with the annexation of land. I won't repeat my arguments in a futile exchange with you.

[shira]

6. It's disgusting you willfully disregard that Gaza is blockaded due to their ongoing war....

...against the Jews. A war they claim over and over again is a religious duty. A war they will wage until either Israel is gone or they are.

And cut the shit about refugees. They've been holed up in camps against their will, in apartheid conditions throughout the mideast for over 60 years. None of your fellow advocates on the far right or left give a shit about refugees.

======

Lastly, you're talking consequences now despite our conversation in the other thread about the consequences of a non-existent RoR? Are you serious?

Hamas knew the consequences of their rocket attacks and their continued attempts to mass murder innocents. They made their choice and Israel is doing what any other nation would do - self defend. In fact, I'm not sure any other nation out there would take what Israel has taken from Hamas. In any other scenario with any other country capable of doing so, Gaza would be flattened and the world wouldn't say a damned thing.

Get real.

[delrem]

9. oh my...

Over the top blind... , just sooooo far over the top blind... -- esp. considering your ongoing denial that justice and international law applies (or even exists) wrt Palestinian refugees in a "discussion" with me in another thread. It's time to use a certain DU board function, because there's no reasoning or hope when dealing with a blind....

[Jefferson23]

11. You're incorrect, as typical of your posts. The long documented history gives a different factual

account: The Tightened siege and intensified economic sanctions

Published:
1 Jan 2013

In June 2007, after several weeks of fighting between Palestinian factions in the Gaza Strip, Hamas seized control of the security apparatuses in the Gaza Strip. In response, Israel tightened its siege over the Gaza Strip, and Palestinians now are almost completely barred from entering or leaving the area.

On 19 September 2007, Israel’s security cabinet declared the Gaza Strip a “hostile entity.” Israel claims this definition now legalizes various punitive measures imposed on Gazans in response to Qassam rocket fire on Israel, including restricting electricity and fuel supplies. In October, Palestinians from the Gaza Strip and Palestinian and Israeli human rights organizations, including B’Tselem, petitioned the Israeli High Court of Justice against the cuts in electricity and fuel, arguing that the measures were likely to cause extensive humanitarian harm, even the loss of life. In late January 2008, the High Court rejected the petition and allowed the cuts in electricity and fuel.

The fuel shortage directly affects the water and sewage systems in the Gaza Strip as it halts the operation of pumps. Some 30 percent of Gazans are denied regular water supply because of the cuts in electricity.

This and other measures have created a crisis in the Gazan economy, which already was in a precarious condition. Israel has deleted the Gaza Strip customs code from its computer system and the Customs Authority has stopped releasing goods intended for Gaza until further notice, except for basic foodstuffs (such as flour, sugar, oil, rice and salt) and equipment Israel has classified as “humanitarian”. Exports from Gaza have also been blocked, apart from several shipments of agricultural produce and flowers, which Israel has permitted under international pressure.

http://www.btselem.org/gaza_strip/siege_tightening

Act of Vengeance: Israel's Bombing of the Gaza Power Plant and its Effects, Sept. 2006

September 2006, Status Report

http://www.btselem.org/publications/summaries/200609_act_of_vengeance

[azurnoir]

2. Terrible that this has become a way of life in Gaza

oone that could be alleviated at least in part by repairs for which the necessary parts are not allowed into Gaza

[Jefferson23]

3. Exactly. n/t