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The Olive Press

7 Years On: Remembering Syrian Refugees

by Anera

Mar 15, 2018

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After seven years of war in Syria, more than 1.5 million Syrian refugees live in informal tented settlements, abandoned buildings, or cramped spaces in decades-old Palestinian camps within Lebanon. Among them are the “twice refugeed”—displaced Palestinian refugees from Syria. They join the half-million Palestinian refugees already living in formal camps in Lebanon. Syrians living in…

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When women are empowered, everyone benefits.

by Anera

Mar 8, 2018

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“No society can be just, and no human or economic development even-spread and sustainable if women, who represent half of the population, are left behind, if their needs and aspirations are not addressed.” – Dr. Lamis Abu-Nahleh, founder of the Birzeit University Women’s Studies Program Women and girls are a powerful force in the communities…

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I’ve never left that hospital room in Burj El Barajneh

Mar 1, 2018

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I was born toward the end of the Holocaust. I went to Hebrew school, marked all the Jewish holidays, and then went to a Jewish school of nursing. In 1967, I was asked to go volunteer in Israel. I didn’t know much about the politics there, but I heard there were Palestinians who were living…

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Update on Anera Projects in Gaza

by Anera

Feb 12, 2018

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Anera is actively carrying out many important relief and development projects in Gaza. Below are just a few recent accomplishments. Infrastructure Road Rehabilitation in Beit Lahia Lack of proper infrastructure and sudden damage to irrigation pipes or water wells are just some of the daily challenges for farmers in Beit Lahia, Gaza. “During winter, this…

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Palestinian Women Increase Incomes Through Gaza Cooperative

by Anera

Feb 5, 2018

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The Society of Rural Women Development, a women’s cooperative in Gaza, makes Palestinian foods like maftoul, kaek and pastries. 160 women were able to increase their income by 55%. Video: Palestinian Women Increase Incomes Through Gaza Cooperative

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Palestine is always close to my heart even if I’m far away

Jan 31, 2018

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When I was a teenager, my father planted a fig tree in our backyard. Each morning he would go out to his garden, his small bustan, to check on his shajarat teen. This was in New York. As you might expect, the poor tree struggled to survive through cold winters and short summers. Yet my father…

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Five for Fifty

by Anera

Jan 24, 2018

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Anera Commemorates our 50th Anniversary with Five Different Series In 1968, Anera started its work delivering humanitarian relief to refugees from the Arab-Israeli War of 1967. Thousands of Palestinians were left homeless and impoverished and a small group of concerned Americans began working to provide immediate assistance to those in need. 50 years later, Anera…

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Scavenging and Recycling in Lebanon: Ayman Provides for His Family

by Anera

Jan 10, 2018

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Ayman is a scavenger in the Palestinian camp of Nahr El Bared in Lebanon. Twice a day he goes out and collects trash from people around his community and takes it to be recycled. His work not only keeps his neighborhood clean, but it provides him and his family a living and education for his…

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To Help Refugees, Help the Whole Community

Dec 21, 2017

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On a recent trip to Lebanon, my first to the region as the new head of Anera, I met with a group of youth. Two were Syrian refugees, one a Palestinian refugee from Syria (a refugee twice over), one a Palestinian refugee who’s grown up in Lebanon, and one a Lebanese. Though their stories and…

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Top 17 Stories of 2017

by Anera

Dec 14, 2017

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As we approach the new year, let’s take a look back at some of the top stories and blogs from 2017. These stories were chosen by you, our supporters, because of their popularity on social media. 17. Gaza Women Find Opportunity in Co-Op “Easy come, easy go,” says 21-year-old Shorouq. “But in Gaza, nothing comes…

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