Gaza's only fun in the sun under threat

Gaza City: Places of entertainment are too limited as there are no cinemas or game zones in Gaza strip; moreover, the people of Gaza are not allowed to leave their small coastal enclave except on very special cases.

Thus the beach is the only place in Gaza were joy and fun can be found, regardless the polluted waters, unhealthy conditions on the beach, and Israeli gunships which constantly observe the seashore.

The beach remained the only place that Gazans can find a space to forget their hard and complicated life.

On Gaza beach, people just rent a tent and spend the whole day in it, meanwhile others have lunch in a cafeteria and let their kids enjoy.

It's usual to see young married couples walking and enjoying the sunset.

All the time, the beach is crowded with holiday-makers. It is the only place where Gazans can have cheap fun.

Three main sewage pumping stations dispose of raw sewage near the beach.

"We know that there is sewage in the water and we are sure that the seawater is polluted, but we have no choice. This is the only place we can go to have fun and forget our tragedies," said Maher Abu Dalo, a Palestinian worker who was with his family.

The World Health Organisation warns that a safe distance to swim from the sewage discharge is a least 2,000 metres, what means that more than half of Gaza beachgoers are exposing themselves to serious risks.

"The water authority in the Gaza has been unable to import the parts necessary for the maintenance and repair of the water and sewage pumping stations since Israel imposed its siege on Gaza strip," said Ebrahim Alejla, media officer for Gaza's Coastal Municipalities Water Utilities.

"About 20,000 cubic meters of raw and partially treated sewage is discharged directly into the sea each day. The rundown sewage network badly needs repairs but the materials are lacking," Alejla said.

"The most polluted areas are in the centre of Gaza strip up to the north of Gaza city were the main sewage compound is, but the southern area of Gaza strip especially Khanyounes and Rafah is clean and safe for swimming and other purposes," he added.

Clinics and hospitals in Gaza reported many cases of eye and skin infections and stomach viruses among beachgoers because of the pollution but that failed to deter organizations from organising beach activities especially for kids.

The summer camps allow the Palestinian youth to direct their energies toward meaningful activities like arts and crafts, kite festivals, theatre, drama, environmental activities and sports. Nearly 240,000 children participated in the Summer Games.

The beach was where children flew 6,000 kites as part of the Summer Games programme of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).

Officials of the Guinness World Records were invited to witness the attempt to break the kite flying record, but due to a security advisory by the UK government warning, the world records keeper instead just sent guidelines to be followed.