People in Gaza Strip are living in worse misery and enduring acute food shortage and surging vegetable prices due to the economic blockade and closure of border crossings imposed by Israel since the Israel-Hamas conflict broke out one year ago.
According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, there has been a sharp rise in the cost-of-living index in Gaza, with an increase of 283 percent from October 7, 2023, until the end of September 2024.
Most of the people here have lost their sources of income due to the lingering war in Gaza, exacerbating their economic plight and depriving their basic living needs.
"There are no prices, this is hell. We are talking about something that doesn’t happen in America or the European Union, it doesn’t exist anywhere in the world. You see and hear the people. What we used to buy for the lowest prices, today you can’t even touch. We are talking about tomatoes at high prices, and potatoes, lemons, all the vegetables are expensive. May God help those with large families, how can they provide food for them? Take a tour around the market and see how the prices have risen. As for me, I live with the bare minimum because I want to survive, I don’t have any options. We are struggling to survive for our children," said Abu Tariq Amra, a buyer at the market in Deir Al-Balah, one of the most crowded areas with displaced Palestinians.
"The situation is tough, and prices are high, people here just walk by the vegetables without buying anything because of the high prices. A kilo of tomatoes is 50 shekels (about 13.5 U.S. dollars), and a kilo of onions is 40 shekels, the prices are outrageous. A person works daily for 30 shekels, what can they buy? Will they buy a single tomato? Prices are high, and we only see chicken once a month in the market. People are wandering around the street, as you can see. Some customers come without any money, we give them without charge. The situation is difficult, prices are high, and people don’t have money. Can you imagine, a kilo of tomatoes for 50 shekels," said Mahmoud Al-Hilu, a vegetable vendor in the market.
On the other hand, Palestinian families without income sources have no choice but to turn to free food distribution centers to secure their daily meals.
In front of one such free food distribution center in central Deir Al-Balah, hundreds of Palestinians, including children and women, were lining up, holding their containers to be filled with food.
"I came here to the 'Takia,' the free food distribution center, to get food to feed my children, because everything is so expensive. I can’t buy vegetables, I can’t buy anything. There’s no work. We live in a tent, and honestly, we are exhausted. I came to take food for my children to feed them. Everything is expensive and scarce in the market," said Amani Shaheen who was displaced from Gaza City.
"We benefit a lot from this Takia. It’s not just about food. The siege is affecting everything. I can’t afford clothes, shoes are expensive, everything is expensive. We are suffering from the high cost of living. When the border crossing is closed, the price of sugar becomes 70 shekels. A bottle of cooking oil now costs 30 shekels. Those who had money have run out of it. We need a solution for these conditions, an end to the war, and to return to our homes. The winter will exhaust us," said Saleem Alwan who was displaced from Jabalia in northern Gaza.
People in Gaza endure acute food shortage, surging vegetable prices
