Its taken me an hour to get into my site and this is the first day a computer shop is open. The curfew is lifted for 4 hours. I havent been able to read post and will probably try and communicate by fax Becky, as there is one at the Red Crescent.
I will tell about Nablus another time, where I stayed in the house of a suicide bomber. They turned on the TV and another bombing was anounced near the area where you and I, Jen, went olive picking, Ariel. Eva a young Polish woman was staying with the family as there were threats from the army to come in and blow the house up. There is huge mistrust of internationals now in Nablus. An unmarked van drove into Belata camp and stopped outside the house where a few internationals were staying trying to prevent it from being blown up. Several armed soldiers jumped out and started arresting people. They left the van. It was feared it contained a bomb. A young guy jumped in and drove it out of the camp, it exploded, many injured. Rumours were spread that international are bringing in collaborators.
I asked Eva to come to Jenin with me. We were told it was impossible to get in. A long journey and we did the final stage in an ambulance. Basically the place has been reinvaded, no internationals come here, no NGO's its a total rebel area. Caoimhe is like a maverick, a 23 year old scorpio, she is a constant link for everyone in the town and camp as no one is allowed out, total curfew. I worked with her during the day and night going to houses that the soldiers are occupying and keeping the families locked up sometimes 30 to a room, getting food and medicine to them while dealing with very scared trigger happy soldiers.
In one night I helped get 3 women in labour to the hospital.
Its a revolting place, I have a fierce sore throat and chest infection. Horrible dust, grime and black smoke is churned out by the tanks. There is unbelievable destruction. Huge areas are blank where there were 100's of houses. No media. We the 4 internationals are the only people moving around. Caoimhe does all the work solo usually. I dont know how or why she does it. Am trying very hard to get my non existent arabic flowing. The young kids keep breaking curfew and throngs of them gather loads of rocks and pelt them at the disgusting tanks which rev up and lunge at them. The kids who are brave, suicidal and fearless and have nothing to lose. The soldiers are scared and crazy looking, and shoot for kicks.
I dont feel close to anyone, Caoimhe is on overload from 9 months here and hard to get close to (says she!!). I stay in a different house each night that is in danger of being destroyed. The soldiers just barge in and sometimes dont give notice. Each night we hear a huge BOOM, as they go destroying houses. One of the Ambulance drivers whose brother is the head of Is. Jihad and is serving 300 years in prison had his house blown up 2 nights ago. I dont know how they stay calm. The family of sisters I stayed with last night had lost their mother last April and their 2 brothers and their sister in law had her family home bulldozed 2 nights ago.
The family I am staying with tonight, their father is on the run, he is leader of one of the main resistence groups, and there are 6 young kids there.
People are very strong here. I have had no outside news in days. Its an achievement to get the bakery open for a few hours or to get a water truck to deliver water, without being stopped by tanks.
I'm glad I came, feel like trying to support Caoimhe and have wriiten appeal to get her some cash as she has none. I only brought a small amount. Whatever she has is quickly spent on food and medicine for people. She is not pushy enough to ask for cash from Palestinian solidarity groups so I will do it for her. I have asked Arik the Rabbi and other HR groups to try to get people to donate phone credit to us. I feel very cold and just hate war and this kind of cruelty going on. Amazing that there is no international presence here to witness anything. Caoimhe has saved so many lives because she works mostly alone and doesn't appear a threat. Im not happy and feel a total misfit. Im learning a lot, out in the dark streets at night and discovering how to get soldiers to be less violent with the kids and people here. So glad I met soldiers out of uniform and can remember they are people.
Will end, I sent Annie a text on her mobile a few days ago to let you know where I am.
Theres a problem to face now as "someone" is heavying the Red Crescent to stop us working with them. 4 medics got arrested yesterday. We ensure their safety.
The RC here is a small centre. Their head was killed last March when the
army threw a grenade into the Ambulance then shot at people trying to rescue
those inside.
Love to you all, Mary
Mary's mobile no. is 067 345972