After years in the dark, Gaza’s power woes ease up gradually
Residents have been enjoying up to 16 hours of electricity a day lately
The lights are going back on in the Gaza Strip, in rare positive news from the blockaded Palestinian enclave.
In recent days, residents say they have had up to 16 hours of mains electricity a day, compared to as little as four previously. UN humanitarian officials report an average of between nine and 11 hours per day since October 25.
It is the result of a landmark six-month deal, part of efforts to end unrest along the border between Israel and the Gaza Strip that has raised fears of a fourth war since 2008.
The deal emerged amid ongoing indirect negotiations between Hamas and Israel, mediated by the United Nations and Egypt, in hopes of a long-term truce. The fuel agreement, the first deliveries of which arrived on October 9, provided the most power to Gaza residents in years.
Increase in ice cream
Tentative results are showing in the beleaguered economy: companies can work longer, restaurant costs are falling, even an increase in ice cream.
Margins are tight for Kamal Fattoum’s two-man box factory in Gaza City and his meagre profits would evaporate if he ■ were to run a generator. He only uses heavy equipment in the hours he has mains electricity, so his workday had shortened in tandem with Gaza’s dwindling power supply.
The uptick has had an immediate impact. “Instead of working for four hours, we can work for eight or more,” he said.
The deliveries are sent through Israel, which agreed on condition the UN monitors them to avoid interference by Hamas, which it accuses of diverting humanitarian aid.
Coupled with pre-existing electricity delivered from Israel, Gaza now has about 200 megawatts a day, said Mohammad Thabet, spokesman for the Gazan energy company.
It is short of the 400-500 megawatts needed for full power, but enough to see service double or more.
“We were paying around 800 shekels (Dh790) a day for 12 hours power from a generator,” said Karam Al Tali, deputy manager of a restaurant in Gaza City. Now, they only need to buy three hours of power from a generator, thanks to the increase in mains electricity, he said.