Gazan man with no legs works as a taxi driver

Every morning, Shadi Duheir, whose lower limbs are amputated, leaves his home in the east of Gaza, pushing his wheelchair with his two hands in the direction of a blue car parked next to the house.

Duheir, who lost both legs and his left hand save for the thumb following an Israeli shell that landed next to his house in 2007, works as a taxi driver to provide for some of his family’s needs, he told the Anadolu Agency.

“I lost my job as a candy seller as I was not able to stand. My new job is a little tiring for me, but I have no choice,” the 32-year-old continued.

Duheir pointed out that he has tried a lot to search for a suitable job for himself, but he didn’t find any. “Job opportunities are very limited for healthy people, let alone us. I sold my wife’s jewellery and bought this car on instalments.”

According to World Bank statistics issued the last May, unemployment in the Gaza Strip has reached 43 per cent, the highest in the world. About 80 per cent of Gaza’s residents receive some form of social assistance and 40 per cent of them are languishing below the poverty line.

Israel has imposed a blockade on Gaza Strip since Hamas’s victory in the parliamentary elections in 2006. The blockade was tightened in mid-2007.

Duheir explained that he sometimes misses out on fares while waiting in parking lots due to his inability to get out of his car to ask customers where they are heading and invite them into his vehicle.

Despite the dangers that his job involves, Duheir could not find other means to provide for his family’s needs and pay the rent.

The lightly bearded man says that he “turned the vehicle’s brakes manually into a leash next to the steering wheel” to be able to carry out his new job, although this may pose a threat to his life.

Duheir is a father of three children and he is due to have twins soon.

“I check the car daily before setting off to work to preserve passengers’ lives.”

He wishes if he could get a car designed especially amputees.

“I would like to provide a decent life to my kids and to get them all they want, and I will continue with my work for them,” he said.

Israel has waged three wars on the Gaza Strip in nearly seven years, claiming thousands of lives and injuring thousands others, in addition to the massive destruction homes and establishments.

The recent Israeli war which began on 7 July 2014 and lasted for 51 days left 11,000 wounded. According to the General Federation of the Disabled in Gaza, more than 40 per cent of those wounded now have hearing, visual or physical disabilities.