Gaza's fishing industry hit hard in latest round of Israel-Hamas conflict

China

Gaza's fishing industry hit hard in latest round of Israel-Hamas conflict

2024-12-25 14:53 Last Updated At：17:37

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) estimated that daily fish catches in the Gaza Strip between October 2023 and April 2024 dropped to only 7.3 percent of that of 2022, which is expected to further worsen the food insecurity and famine risks in the region.

According to Ahmed El-Ejla, project coordinator at Al-Tawfiq Cooperative Society for Fisheries, many fishing boats, nets and conservation facilities were destroyed in the latest round of the Israel-Hamas conflict which broke out in October last year.

"Fishermen in Gaza are supposed to catch 15 to 20 tons of fish on a daily basis during this season. However, they would only catch 2 to 5 kilograms of fish everyday as of now," he said.

Khaled Radwan Ahmad Al-Laham, a 35-year-old fisher from Khan Younis who previously benefited from the marine cage farms within the FAO project, was able to make a living. He said the war had destroyed his life, and left local fishers in huge losses "We were able to get by before the war. The sea provided us with a source of income and employment. We were satisfied and getting by as everything just went fine. However, the war broke out and brought an end to everything." he said.

Israeli forces have imposed a fishing ban over adjacent waters off the Gaza Strip, which restricted the entry of local fishers, leaving most fishermen without an access to the sea for fishing.

Even if they fish in near-shore waters, fishermen still face great security risks.

"Most of the fishermen mention that their assets, their vessels, all of their belongings have been destroyed during the war. They cannot access the sea."said Wael Aldaya, FAO fisheries project manager.

Local fishers hope that they can reach the waters as early as possible to continue their normal lives. "My wish is that they could open the sea for us, so we can go fishing safely. Then I hope they would provide us with fishing supplies, like nets, fiberglass and these things, so we can survive on our own," said Khaled Radwan Ahmad Al-Laham, a local fisher. .

"Ice flowers" bloom on northwest China’s Bosten Lake

2024-12-25 17:28 Last Updated At：17:37

In recent days, plummeting temperatures have given rise to intricate patterns of frost resembling beautiful flowers on the frozen expanse of the Bosten Lake in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

These unique "ice flowers" exhibit a range of shapes, from fluffy tufts akin to cotton to ethereal forms reminiscent of butterfly wings, delicately adorning the icy landscape.

This phenomenon has become a picturesque winter attraction in the region, drawing wide attention to its rare beauty.

Experts attribute the formation of these captivating "ice flowers" on the Bosten Lake to the rapid temperature drop. The overcooled saturated water vapor meeting the pristine smooth ice surface has led to the gradual growth of these exquisite frost formations, creating a magical winter scene that captivates both locals and visitors alike.