STORY: Zoo animals in Gaza suffer from poor conditions amid ongoing conflict
SHOOTING TIME: Dec. 20, 2023
DATELINE: Dec. 22, 2023
LENGTH: 00:02:36
LOCATION: GAZA, Palestine
CATEGORY: SOCIETY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the zoo
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): MOHAMMED JOMAA, Owner of the Rafah zoo
3. various of the zoo
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): MOHAMMED JOMAA, Owner of the Rafah zoo
5. various of the zoo

STORYLINE:

Amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, zoo animals in the Gaza Strip have also been suffering from poor living conditions.

In Rafah city in the south of Gaza, a zoo, housing many wild animals, was damaged by an Israeli airstrike that attacked a nearby residential house a few days ago.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): MOHAMMED JOMAA, Owner of the Rafah zoo
"The conditions inside the zoo are very difficult amid the ongoing Israeli strikes. I have found some chimpanzees and monkeys that have died. The animals have been suffering from a lack of medicines and veterinary treatment because no doctor can come here to treat them. Currently, we can rarely find treatment and food for the animals. Even the basic needs for ourselves are not met. In fact, the animals are suffering as much as the humans in Gaza."

SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): MOHAMMED JOMAA, Owner of the Rafah zoo
"The Israeli army bombed a place close to my zoo. After two hours, I came here to inspect the situation and I found a chimpanzee with its head stuck in the cage. I think it was because of the heavy Israeli airstrikes and the heavy explosions."

Gaza has been under massive Israeli siege and bombardment since Oct. 7.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Gaza, Palestine.
(XHTV)