QUARANTINE - DAY 25 - 30th March 2020

Today, 30th March, is Palestinian Land Day يوم الأرض . Since 1976, this day has been commemorated as a day of demonstrations, returning to confiscated villages and planting trees that have been uprooted by Israeli settlers. But despite this quarantine, land continues to be taken and homes destroyed. This year is the first year that Land Day will be remembered by Palestinians within their homes. The people of Bethlehem were cheered up by seeing the news of a group of doctors who have been quarantined in Beit Sahour for 14 days leaving isolation today. 

A man from Aida refugee camp shares his thoughts on life in quarantine:

The State of Palestine will be unable to cope with this disease if it spreads, because it does not have enough medical equipment to fight the virus, even though it provides Palestinian doctors with special clothes for this disease. Both the disease and Bethlehem are strong, and here we are one body - one community.
The closure of all institutions, companies, shops, as well as mosques and churches, because of this epidemic, has stopped the virus from spreading, and even people who live in Beit Jala are forbidden to go to Bethlehem. People from Beit Sahour are also forbidden to go to Bethlehem or Beit Jala. Everyone is committed to their own towns. At 7pm it is forbidden to leave our houses.

This is now in all countries of the world. I hope that God will end this epidemic.

I live in Aida Camp with my parents. Before quarantine, I was studying at university and working with a food delivery service. But with this virus, everything has stopped working, including studying in universities and schools. These measures are necessary in order to preserve the lives of the citizens and for the homeland to be safe. Here in the city everything is closed, from restaurants and hotels to mosques, churches and banks as well.

In terms of money and food, the government and some people who own large companies and factories are trying as much as possible to provide people who are struggling with services such as food, money, medicine, and protection from this virus. We stand as one body and support the needy with food or anything else we can provide for them.

During the day, I do nothing important. I study online. I do bodybuilding and some exercises at home. My mum is the one who cooks. 

I thank God that I am in good health. I hope that all people will recover from this virus. 

https://www.bethlehem-town.com/