Habla

 Habla CP

An especially bustling midday. The CP was opened with a delay of 30 minutes and we were told that in the morning there was a delay of about an hour, and during the month there were 6-7 instances where the CP was opened with a delay of an hour. But today there is also reason for joy. After a saga which lasted over a year, at long last the new pipes for the pumphave arrived and A. is optimistic that the electric pump will begin working soon. Inshallah.

13:00 The gate is still closed and on both sides cars, carts hitched to horses and about 10 people are waiting. During the next half hour more people and vehicles arrive from both sides. All are used to waiting patiently.

13.25 – The soldiers have arrived. When we ask why the opening has been delayed the girl soldier replies  that there are changes in the opening hours of the gates – and that they are now opened at 13.30 instead of at 13.00, and in the morning too and that "they know". It turns out that the girl soldier has invented this wrong information "just so", and that the usual opening hours, according to the soldiers, are still valid.

13.35 – the gate is opened and the traffic from both sides moves quickly. From the direction of the village two big haulers with pipes are coming out. It turns out that we are witnesses to a near miracle – at long last the new pipes for the pump have arrived after a long time and  prolonged negotiations with the authorities. A. waits for the workmen to unload the pipes. The people are delayed for a long time and then only two are allowed to come out. Hopefully they will be able to unload in time.

14.10 – The gate is closed.