The parish priest of Gaza’s small Christian community says his flock is exhausted by war and a severe lack of food. Source: Vatican News.
Speaking to Vatican Radio, Fr Gabriel Romanelli asked not to be forgotten and for continued prayers: an unending source of hope.
“The price of flour is around 18 euros per kilo, tomatoes about 23, a single onion between 12 and 15 euros. A kilo of sugar costs at least 100 euros. But coffee, bitter or not, is out of reach entirely: it goes for no less than 250 euros per kilo.”
With a sorrow that does not extinguish hope, Fe Romanelli offered a glimpse into the daily struggle for survival in the besieged Strip.
“Let me be clear, these prices are almost theoretical. Before we talk about paying for anything, we need to find it. And that is nearly impossible. When available, we rely on small makeshift wartime gardens, tended by impromptu farmers. But these are becoming increasingly rare, as most of the population has fled toward the south of Gaza.”
When asked what people are managing to eat in these difficult times, Fr Romanelli replied: “The aid we had stored during the truce allowed us to sustain ourselves for the past few months, and even to help several Muslim families living in the neighbourhood of the parish.
“But after Israel halted humanitarian aid on March 3, nothing else has arrived. Since then, we’ve had to keep what remains for ourselves – and even then, we are rationing it carefully.
“Most of the homes near our parish compound are now empty. All around us, there is only death and destruction. Day and night, we live with the sound of bombs falling, sometimes just a few hundred meters from the church.
“It is surreal, but after 21 months, these terrible explosions have become part of our daily routine.”
The Christian community of the Holy Family Parish now numbers around 500, down from 1017 before October 7, Fr Romanelli said.
“The only thing that keeps us together and gives us hope is prayer. In this situation, the power of prayer is truly great, it is what keeps us united and prevents us from falling into despair,” he said.
FULL STORY
Gaza’s Christian community persevering amid hardship and hope (By Roberto Cetera, Vatican News)
