Recently, history was made when journalist and Masafer Yatta resident, Basel Adra, became the first Palestinian filmmaker to be awarded an Oscar for his film, No Other Land, a documentary, takes place in Masafer Yatta, a community in the occupied Southern West Bank. The film captures life among the villages in Masafer Yatta and the violent attempts made by Israeli soldiers and armed settlers to expel Palestinians from their ancestral lands. Despite these efforts to erase the local population, the film highlights a value central to both the documentary and the work of UPA: sumūd, which translates to steadfastness. 

The film is not without controversy, namely, in the fact that its co-director is himself Israeli. For us at UPA, the film portrays the stark reality of life in the Hebron valley, where Palestinians traditionally farm and herd sheep for their livelihood against terrible odds. Israeli violence limits the daily practices of Palestinians in the villages of Masafer Yatta, and attempts to squash all possibility for economic opportunity. Water supply to the area is controlled and exorbitantly priced, settlers make frequent attacks on the farmers, and securing water is a daily struggle wracked with danger.  

Resistance in Masafer Yatta requires self-sufficiency, and that is impossible without the ability to obtain a safe source of clean water. UPA worked with several communities in Masafer Yatta to restore ancient cisterns and offer farmers tools and training to cultivate their land. After repairing eight cisterns in Masafer Yatta, over a hundred families now have access to water, and with it, agency over their land. Farmers from surrounding villages have gained invaluable knowledge, not only through UPA’s equipment training but by forging strong connections with fellow farmers who share the same goals. 

The upgrades provided by UPA do more than just improve the livelihoods of farmers—they strengthen the very essence of Sumūd. Since 2019, UPA has upgraded 42 dunams of farmland supporting 17 grape farmers and their families and rehabilitated 3,370,000 liters of rainwater storage.  With each cistern repaired and each farmer empowered, the people of Masafer Yatta are asserting their right to their land, their traditions, and their future. 

The endeavor to create lasting change for themselves is an ongoing issue that predates and outlasts Oscar season. Adra himself recorded his neighbors’ homes being attacked upon returning to the land of his forefathers. This is the reality. And UPA is committed to doing everything we can to help our people continue to remain steadfast on their own land.