Gaza residents build wind turbines from scrap to restore some power

Residents of the Gaza Strip have started building improvised wind turbines from scrap metal and debris to produce limited amounts of electricity after the territory’s power network was almost entirely destroyed.

In a camp for displaced people near Khan Younis, makeshift turbines turn in the sea breeze above rows of tents, supplying small amounts of power that allow families to charge phones and run basic appliances.

Kamal al-Dabari, a 60-year-old former engineering student who was forced to flee his home, has been using his technical knowledge to assemble the devices and help neighbours reconnect to a few essential services.

Small outputs, tangible gains

Data from the World Bank show that by April 2026 more than 90 percent of Gaza’s electricity generation and distribution capacity had been destroyed, largely because of attacks that also demolished homes and infrastructure. The improvised turbines cannot replace the ruined grid, but the limited power they produce covers critical daily needs.

“Although solar panels were still relatively affordable, we bought one and constantly moved it to follow the sun,” al-Dabari said. With solar prices now climbing sharply after three years of conflict and a squeeze on humanitarian and commercial supplies through crossings tightly controlled by Israel, many families no longer can afford panels.

Despite their modest output, the homemade turbines are enough to charge mobile phones, run small fans and even power electric razors — everyday comforts that have become luxuries for people living in tents and temporary shelters amid a protracted humanitarian crisis.

Photo: press material from the event