Tawfiq Kanooh: A Driver of a Four-Wheel-Drive Vehicle

Tulkarm

Tawfiq Kanooh, an emergency medical technician (EMT) of the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS), stands with his back to Israeli occupation soldiers who are aiming their rifles at the displaced refugees from his camp, Nur shams camp for Palestinian refugees in Tulkarm. He is looking at the devastated camp, watching the displaced people gazing at their homes, hoping this won't be their final glance.

Among them an elderly neighbor who has spent her entire life in the camp. She always believed that if she ever left, it would be to return to the home that her family was displaced from in 1948. She never imagined she would endure another Nakba. Tawfiq extends his hand to help her, silently wishing she could remain in the camp this time.

Another young girl, who grew up dreaming of a better future, had grown accustomed to the narrow alleys of the camp, holding onto the hope of return. But now, she finds herself living the same painful experience her grandmother once described: displacement and exile. Tawfiq helps her cross a road destroyed by the bulldozers of the occupation, doing what little he can to ease the sorrow of a flood of people forced from their homes, their dreams swept away with them.

He has never witnessed anything like this before. Since joining the PRCS as a volunteer in 2000, he has steadily progressed through its ranks, eventually becoming an EMT in the Emergency Medical Service (EMS) center. Now, he feels as if he is living in a scene from a film or television series he has seen before, one that tells the story of the Nakba.

“It’s as if history is repeating itself,” he said. “Our grandparents told us about the Nakba and forced displacement and now we’re living it. But this time, it feels even harsher. This is where we were raised, this is where we grew up. This is my neighbor carrying his children and being forced to flee, and that is my grandmother’s friend whose heart is breaking as she is leaving the camp”.

He highlighted that the occupation had forcibly displaced residents from both refugee camps in Tulkarm city. Meanwhile, his colleagues at the PRCS resumed assisting numerous humanitarian cases, including patients, the elderly, and others in need.

Tawfiq explained: “We worked to help both the displaced and those who remained inside the camp, despite the immense challenges we face, including the inability of regular ambulances to operate due to the destruction of roads. This forced us to use four-wheel-drive vehicles and tuk-tuks equipped with first aid equipment in an attempt to facilitate helping people.”

Four-Wheel-Drive Vehicles

Four-wheel-drive vehicles, commonly known as “Dabab”, are usually used for recreational purposes, allowing adventurers to navigate rough terrains where regular cars cannot go. However, in the northern West Bank, they have become rescue vehicles after the occupation destroyed the roads.

Tawfiq-the driver of a small four-wheel-drive vehicle- has become a known figure in the alleys of Nur shams and Tulkarm refugee camps. He is the man for challenging missions, working tirelessly to rescue those trapped in the narrow alleys and helping displaced families transport their belongings after their homes were demolished by the occupation.

He said: “Words cannot fully express or describe the severity of the situation. No one can truly understand what I am saying except the ones who are living it. People are in desperate need of help, and I am the only EMT capable of driving a four-wheel-drive vehicle. Moreover, I know every corner of this camp, its homes, and its people because I am the son of this camp. This gives me the motivation to stay and not leave, especially when my home and community need me the most.”

Between Family and Duty

Tawfiq has not seen his parents and family for twenty-three days, as he has been fully dedicated to his work since the continuous invasion of Tulkarm city. He only managed to visit his wife and two daughters for a short time after they were displaced from their home, emphasizing how difficult this situation is for him.

He described living with two sorrows, one for not being able to see his family, and another for witnessing the suffering of the people. However, he believes that their need for help is greater than his own need to be with his loved ones, which is why he continues to provide aid and support to those in need.

He emphasized that evacuating a citizen from his home after a long period of suffering is a significant achievement for him. Likewise, assisting an injured or elderly person is also a meaningful accomplishment.

Great Hardships

Throughout the continuous invasion of Tulkarm’s refugee camps, EMTs have faced severe restrictions, including repeated stops, searches, and delays at every military checkpoint, even when prior coordination was in place to enter specific areas.

Tawfiq explains: “When we enter to evacuate an injured person, a patient, or any other case and transport them, the occupation soldiers stop us again, subjecting us to further searches and delays.”

He concluded by saying: “There are still families scattered across different neighborhoods in Nur Shams camp, and we are doing our best to provide them with assistance and support, including delivering food parcels, despite the immense challenges and restrictions imposed by the occupation army.”