Egypt’s imminent completion of an above-and-below-ground steel barrier along its border with the Gaza Strip is putting Gazans on edge: How will they survive without the huge trade conducted via underground tunnels?
A lucrative tunnel smuggling trade in a range of commodities took off after Israel imposed an economic embargo on the Strip after a Hamas takeover in June 2007, writes IRINnews.
The World Bank and Palestinian economists estimate that at least 80 percent of Gaza’s total imports come through the tunnels.
Tunnel workers estimate there are over 1,000 tunnels between Gaza and the town of Rafah on the Egyptian side of the border – dug at depths of 15-35m and up to 1km long.
ENESTE LEVEVEJ
– Digging tunnels and working in them is one of the few jobs available for Palestinian youth in Gaza, Omar Sha’ban, a Gazan economist, said.
– Tunnel workers reportedly earn US$25 per day, a huge sum in the current Palestinian economy.
Tunnel owner and manager Abu Antar*, 45, said an end to the tunnels between Gaza and Rafah in Egypt would mean no income for him and thousands of others who rely on the tunnels for work.
– We have succeeded in cutting through the Egyptian fence, but the thing we are afraid of now is that the Egyptians will electrify it and add seismic sensors to detect us underground, which would make our mission impossible. Tunnels are our only source of living, the father of seven told IRIN.
Egypt’s steel barrier will be 10-11km long and will extend 18 metres below ground on completion, the Egyptian authorities have said. Egyptian daily al-Shorouq recently reported that “work on the main wall is in its fourth and final stage,” after which cameras and detection devices will be installed.
It is believed this process will take a few weeks and then will undergo a testing period before becoming fully operational.
FARLIGT ARBEJDE
Abu Antar said the tunnel he owns has 50 people working in it.
– Every day we work in the tunnels and wonder if we’ll get out alive. Many times the earth has collapsed… Death is inevitable in this type of work. We are dealing with fear 24 hours a day. Many people have died. Every month there are more causalities in the tunnels from the continuous Israeli air strikes, he said.
Accidents in the tunnels are frequent. According to Palestinian human rights organization Al-Mezan, 120 tunnel traders have been killed over the past three years.
