Obayda El Khabo is a survivor of misfortune. The 27-year old is fighting numerous odds.
In the small town of Beit Hanoun, Obayda is famously known as the guy who rouses the crowd during soccer matches of his favorite team, Al-Ahli. On one occasion, while leading the Ultras in the stands, a tragedy struck. In a horrific incident, a faulty firework exploded in his hand, leaving him badly injured and in need of surgery
Without total control of his arms and fingers, Obayda can no longer work the way he did before.
Before becoming a cobbler, Obayda worked mainly in weddings, pouring coffee and juice to attendees. Even such a seemingly simple task can no longer be done after the incident. But there’s always a glimmer of hope. Somehow, Obayda can fix shoes.
Obayda told me his story from the very start, of how for a moment, seconds after waking up from surgery, he began to wonder if he’ll ever fix shoes or pour coffee ever again. He almost lost his livelihood. At this age in Gaza, especially in a small town like Beit Hanoun, losing one’s income is the single divide between a state of poverty – experienced by most Gazans – and mere survival.
Obayda continues to live valiantly but in obscurity. The current political and economic climate has pushed many young Gazans out of the country seeking opportunities elsewhere. They look for a better life whenever they are lucky enough to be presented with the opportunity to do so. However for many, like Obayda, leaving is not an option.
According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, the unemployment rate in the besieged Strip stands at 39.5%.
Obayda continues to live and work despite the obstacles – career-ending injuries, the skyrocketing unemployment, and the horrific poverty rate of 53%.
There are those that cannot face hardship and choose to leave in search of a better life elsewhere, and then there are people like Obayda, the one who confronts life head-on, fight the good fight, and refuse to be a mere statistic.
To be alive in Gaza is itself a challenging act. Here survival is a big ask. But to overcome all the odds, to work and to insist on living with passion, hopes and aspirations is an act of great courage.
(All Photos: Mahmoud Nasser, The Palestine Chronicle)
– Mahmoud Nasser is a Gaza-based photographer. After spending 13 years outside his country, he decided to come back to photograph Gaza’s loss of life, suffering, and the consequences of war, but also the human stories and the love for life. He can be contacted at mahmoud-bn@hotmail.com.
