The Bedouin Village ,,, Lack of Services and Continuous Promises of a Better Future, 11 Aug. 2001

Thousands of Palestinian Bedouins were forced to move from their homes near Jabalia to a new village outside Beit Lahia.
The living conditions in the village are deplorable.
Health hazards from the sewage pools near the village are critical.
Face the Public brought this issue to the attention of relevant Palestinian officials.
attended by 71 persons Guest speakers Dr.
Atif Jabir, the Ministry of Environment Affairs.
Engineer Muhammad Qishta, the Ministry of Environment Affairs.
Mr.
Samir Matar, Director of the Local Government in Northern Gaza Governorate.
Mr.
Jum,a Abu Thuraya, Head of the Bedouin Village Local Council.
Summary of issues raised by the public Inhabitants of the Bedouin Village were rehoused in the village against their will creating a disastrous situation.
There are many sewage collection pools around the village posing both environmental and health risks.
There is almost no infrastructure in the village, which is now overcrowded as well.
Because there is no school in the village, inhabitants often do not send their children, particularly girls, to school farther away.
The local village council was newly established to take care of the poor but is not able to help without the government assistance.
The government is obliged to fight the negative effects of the sewage collection pools and to provide the village with special health care.
Summary of answers given by the guest speakers Guest speakers admit that the village's situation is disastrous and that the sewage collection pools adversely affect people's lives.
They said they had plans to ameliorate this situation; however, they faced budget troubles in the aftermath of the uprising.
There are continuous efforts to correct the problems of the sewage collection pools.
It is expected that by 2005 most of the village problems will have been solved by the completion of current plans.
Both of the ministries consider the village problems as the most urgent priority.
Guests will contact the Ministry of Education and recommend that a school be built in the village.
Cooperation with the local village council will continue in the future.