15/11/2009
 

In its first report about children working in the Gaza-Egypt smuggling tunnels, the research unit National Society for Democracy and Law reported the prime factor in child labor in the tunnels was abject poverty.

The report, released in early November, details the working conditions for children employed in the tunnel industry, and provides analysis on the impact child labor in the tunnels has on Palestinian society in Gaza.

The findings of the report say tunnel labor has a “very negative influence” on the political, social, and economic life in Palestinian society in Gaza. “This kind of labour weakens the potential of future generations and hinders development of human resources,” the report’s conclusion said, and recommended an immediate halt be put on the practice.

The role of small children in the tunnel industry was described as merchandise movers. The children generally enter the tunnels, often 12 meters underground and running 700 meters underneath the Egypt-Gaza border. The kids work the poorly-lit underground passages, with bare bulbs strung every ten meters. They work from 7am to 7pm, and some work the night shift, 7pm to 7am, generally only getting one hour long break during the day.

“This work is very exhausting for children,” the report warns, noting “many take painkillers. The most popular of which is tramal,” a synthetic opioid analgesic used in the reduction of moderate to severe pain, and often used to treat cancer patients.

The merchandise children move range from electronics to food products, medicines, clothes, shoes, livestock, and even flammable materials like paints and paint thinners.

Of the under-age children currently working in the tunnel industry, most left school before high school and have already been working in the tunnels for 1-2 years. Children who work in tunnels say their small size is an asset because they can move through the tunnels more easily than adults can. Salaries range from 50-200 shekels (13-25 US dollars per day).

Children interviewed for the report did not express fear of the job even though they or their friends had routinely experienced power cuts, tunnel collapses or gas leaks while they were inside the passages.

To date the number of children killed in tunnel accidents since the boom of tunnel industry three years ago is 32 according to the Abu Yousif An-Najjar Hospital and the European Hospitals in Gaza. The overall number of tunnel victims is 117.

 Outcomes and recommends:

- there is exist a very bad use for the children form those the have tunnels, using their small size and the less salary.

- the riot of the families they force their children to work in this tunnels .

- the related organizations carless of such kind of work.

- human right organizations carless to such phenomenon that extended this days.

- NSDL calling the international community immediately intervene to break the siege imposed on Gaza strip.

- NSDL dangerously looking to the tunnels victims.