HEBRON, West Bank /PNN /

Residents of Khillet al-Farra, a small community west of Yatta near the border with the town of al-Samu, have endured years of difficult living conditions due to a lack of basic services, leaving daily life a constant struggle.

Local activist Khaled al-Qimri said the area is a permanent residential community of around 450 people spread across roughly 1,700 dunams of land. He added that parts of the area have been seized by the Israeli military, particularly lands adjacent to the settlement of Otniel.

Al-Qimri said the community has long suffered from the absence of essential infrastructure, including electricity, water networks and paved roads, making movement within and beyond the area difficult.

Residents also lack access to healthcare and education facilities, he said, forcing them to travel to nearby areas for basic services.

The nearest school or clinic is about five to six kilometres away, turning access into a daily challenge, with residents often walking or relying on vehicles depending on the security situation.

He warned that the continued absence of basic services is deepening the hardship for residents, who remain without electricity, water, roads, schools or clinics — fundamental elements of stable living conditions.

Resident Ibrahim al-Hreini said he has lived in Khillet al-Farra for about 27 years after purchasing land in the area and developing it by planting olive, grape and almond trees.

He said he built a water well at his own expense without external support, adding that residents have not received the government services they need.

“The area lacks the most basic human rights,” he said, noting the absence of water infrastructure, roads, electricity and healthcare services.

Al-Hreini recalled an incident about six or seven years ago when a young child was bitten by an insect and needed urgent medical care, but poor road conditions prevented a vehicle from reaching the area.

“We had to carry the child on our shoulders for a distance until we reached a point where a car could pass and take him to hospital,” he said.

Residents have been calling for basic services for years, he added, noting that requests were submitted to the local council more than eight years ago.

He stressed that Khillet al-Farra is also an area under pressure, making the provision of infrastructure essential to support residents’ resilience and ability to remain on their land.

“Our demands are simple,” he said. “We need water, electricity, roads and basic healthcare services.”

The hardship extends beyond access to services and affects daily livelihoods, particularly for farmers and livestock breeders who depend on water and electricity.

Bassam Nawajaa, another resident, said the lack of electricity has a direct impact on daily life and economic activity.

Livestock breeders face losses due to the absence of refrigeration, he said, noting that milk produced from sheep often spoils in the heat and must be discarded.

He added that livestock themselves suffer under high temperatures without adequate cooling or shelter.

The lack of electricity also prevents residents from operating basic equipment that could ease daily life, such as fans during heatwaves or pumps needed to supply water.

“If electricity were available, it would ease much of the burden,” Nawajaa said, explaining that residents currently rely on manual or costly methods to obtain water.

Water access remains another major challenge. Without a network, residents are forced to purchase water and transport it to the area, adding to already strained finances.

A single tanker delivery costs about 50 shekels, Nawajaa said, placing further pressure on families already struggling economically.

He added that residents face multiple burdens at once, from securing water and electricity to providing food for their families and covering debts.

“These conditions even affect our social lives,” he said. “Sometimes a guest comes and you cannot offer anything because of the situation.”

Residents say the combined challenges of limited infrastructure and economic hardship continue to weigh heavily on daily life and livelihoods.

They are calling for the provision of electricity, water, roads and essential services to ensure a minimum standard of living and enable them to remain steadfast on their land.

This video was produced with financial support from CFI, Expertise France and the European Union. Its contents are the sole responsibility of the beneficiary and do not necessarily reflect the views of CFI, Expertise France or the European Union.