Displaced Gazans build scrap-metal wind turbines for electricity

In a crowded displacement camp in Gaza, homemade wind turbines made from scrap metal and salvaged debris are spinning in the sea breeze, providing electricity to struggling Palestinian families. Kamal Al-Dabary, a former engineering student, is behind the initiative in the southern Khan Yunis camp. He uses his skills to help families who have been displaced and lack access to Gaza's shattered power grid.

The World Bank reports that over 90% of Gaza's power generation and distribution capacity was destroyed in April, largely due to Israeli strikes that devastated homes and infrastructure. Al-Dabary's makeshift workshop involves tinkering with electrical wires, metal parts, and basic tools on a plastic table. By carefully twisting cables together and testing them with a multimeter, he can get a small bulb to flicker on, indicating that the current is flowing.

Al-Dabary, a 60-year-old displaced by the fighting between Israel and Hamas, recalls buying a solar panel when they were relatively affordable. However, after three years of war, prices have soared, and a single solar panel now costs at least 15,000 shekels (R77,500), making it unaffordable for most Gazans. With no work or income for three years, Al-Dabary conceived the idea of harnessing the wind for electricity.

The wind turbines are constructed from scooter motors and old water tanks cut into blades. As the wind turns the blades, they drive a motor that generates electricity, which passes through circuits assembled from parts recovered from destroyed homes and is stored in batteries. This setup provides enough electricity to charge phones, run lights, fans, and even electric razors.

Nearly all of Gaza's residents have been displaced at least once during the war, and most now live in a small area still under Hamas rule, while Israel controls more than 60% of the territory along its perimeter. Al-Dabary's initiative has become a vital source of support for families living in tents and shelters.

The output of the wind turbines remains modest, but in a camp where shortages are constant, every watt counts. Saleh ben Hasan, a 50-year-old resident, says the system "has changed everything." The power can also help keep medical equipment running, which is crucial given the difficulties in accessing healthcare and medication in Gaza.

The homemade wind turbines have become a lifeline for families in need. As Al-Dabary, known locally as Abu Ayman, notes, "They help us hold on… until God delivers us from this ordeal and we can return home." His initiative is a testament to the resilience of the Palestinian people in the face of adversity.

Key points

• The wind turbines provide a vital source of electricity for displaced families in Gaza.
• The initiative was conceived due to the high cost of solar panels, which are now unaffordable for most Gazans.
• The homemade wind turbines are made from scrap metal and salvaged debris, and provide enough electricity to charge phones and run basic appliances.