Kamal al-dabary builds recycled wind turbines to power Gaza displaced families

Kamal Al-Dabary, a 60-year-old former engineering student, built handmade wind turbines to provide electricity to displaced families in the al-Mawasi camp near Jan Yunis in the Gaza Strip.

He constructed the devices using salvaged materials to address the severe lack of basic services caused by the destruction of the region's electrical infrastructure. Al-Dabary used recycled components such as scooter motors, discarded water tanks, and electrical parts rescued from destroyed homes to create the generators.

These turbines capture sea breezes to turn blades, which then activate a mechanism to generate electricity. The produced power is stored in batteries so families can use it for essential daily needs, such as charging mobile phones and powering lights, fans, and electric shavers. The project serves as a low-cost alternative to conventional solar panels, which Al-Dabary notes can cost around 5,000 dollars.

While the turbines cannot replace a full power grid or support high-consumption appliances, they provide a way for residents to maintain communication and improve living conditions in temporary shelters. The initiative also promotes a circular economy by repurposing waste materials to create decentralized renewable energy during a humanitarian crisis.