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The Olive Press

Syrian Refugees Receive School and Hygiene Kits

by Anera

Aug 4, 2017

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In Lebanon, half of all Syrian children do not go to school. For refugee youth like Nour and Ali, school is largely inaccessible due to the cost. Now they’re getting a chance to enroll in our non-formal education courses with donated school and hygiene kits, provided by UMCOR and delivered by Anera. The kits give…

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Twice Displaced: Palestinian-Syrian Refugees in Gaza

by Anera

Jun 20, 2017

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For World Refugee Day, our team visited one of the 250 families who fled the Syrian war to find refuge in the most unlikely of places—Gaza. Suad and Mahmoud had a stable and comfortable life before the war. As Syrians of Palestinian descent, they are “twice displaced” and have now found themselves in Gaza. There,…

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Mamdouh’s Story: How 10-Year Gaza Blockade has Devastated Fishermen

by Anera

Jun 7, 2017

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June marks the somber 10th anniversary of the Gaza blockade. The past decade has crippled Gaza’s economy and standard of living.  The fishermen who populate the enclave’s shoreline have been some of the most deeply affected by the blockade. While Gaza’s fishermen used to be able to make a living off the sea, many like…

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Palestinian Farmers Embody the Spirit of Earth Day

by Anera

Apr 21, 2017

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For Earth Day 2017, we caught up with Dr. Mansour, a Palestinian medical doctor and farmer who was part of Anera’s agricultural knowledge sharing program. Using the skills he learned, he and his sister Ni’ma lovingly tend to their farm in Beit Duqo, West Bank. With a bunch of yellow roses in his hand, Dr….

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West Bank Farmers Recycle Wastewater to Nourish Crops

by Anera

Mar 24, 2017

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Meet a Palestinian farmer who is irrigating his alfalfa and trees with a valuable resource, wastewater, that was being thrown away as crops died. In the fertile plains of Marj Ibn Amer Valley, Jenin, a Palestinian farmer was struggling to grow crops and feed his livestock, given the scarce water resources in the West Bank….

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Meet Fadwa, a Palestinian Woman Making a Big Difference in Her Village

by Anera

Mar 8, 2017

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This International Women’s Day, we’re celebrating the bold spirit and vast achievements of Palestinian women and female refugees. Women don’t always have adequate support in their societies, but when they are given opportunities, they thrive and improve the lives of those around them. Meet Fadwa, one Palestinian woman who’s making a big difference in her…

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Using Treated Wastewater to Revive Palestine Agriculture

by Anera

Feb 7, 2017

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The agricultural industry in Palestine is deeply hindered by water scarcity – an-ever growing problem. Though the agriculture sector uses nearly 45% of all water available to Palestinians in the West Bank, only 10% of the West Bank’s cultivated area is irrigated. But now, farmers have a new way to water their crops. Anera’s first-of-its-kind…

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Sorting and Recycling Waste in Nahr El Bared Refugee Camp

by Anera

Dec 21, 2016

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In Lebanon’s Nahr El Bared refugee camp, trash is dumped everywhere. It fills the streets and covers sports fields. As the camp runs out of space, residents dump waste dangerously close to the sea. To make matters worse, scavengers often tear open bags to find recyclables that they can sell, leaving a huge mess. They burn…

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Destroyed Preschool in Shejaiya, Gaza Gets Rebuilt

by Anera

Nov 29, 2016

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During the 2014 war in Gaza, the Shejaiya neighborhood in the eastern part of Gaza City was heavily bombed. The war damaged hundreds of buildings, leaving thousands of Palestinians homeless. The few preschools in Shejaiya that existed prior to the war were entirely destroyed. Early childhood development (ECD) is essential to the cognitive, social and…

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Gaza Farms Burst With Sweet Potatoes

by Anera

Nov 8, 2016

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Sweet potatoes are a common treat in Gaza. Vendors on the beach sell them from boxes held above their heads, and they flourish in the local soil. Farmers can make big profits from these tasty crops. However, many Gaza farms aren’t prepared to grow sweet potatoes. Fields have been damaged by war or left barren due…

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