"After two years of a grinding war, Palestinians in the Gaza Strip are observing the holy month of Ramadan during an unabating economic catastrophe as Israel continues to impose restrictions on the entry of food and other supplies despite a ceasefire reached in October. For most families, the daily struggle to secure a mere loaf of bread has replaced the traditional festive atmosphere before the war."
"During periods when Israel tightened its siege or completely closed the crossings into Gaza, food prices spiked by more than 700 percent. While prices have retreated slightly since the ceasefire began in October, they remain significantly higher than pre-war levels. According to Mohammed Barbakh, director general of policy and planning at the Ministry of Economy in Gaza, official data tracking prices from before the war began on October 7, 2023, to the first days of this Ramadan show staggering increases."
Palestinians in the Gaza Strip face an acute economic catastrophe during Ramadan as restrictions on food and supplies persist despite a ceasefire. Daily survival, including securing a loaf of bread, has replaced traditional festive observances for most families. Official price tracking shows steep increases: chicken up 80 percent, frozen fish up 190 percent, frozen red meat up 75 percent, and eggs up 170 percent. Vegetables soared, with tomatoes doubling and cucumbers rising 300 percent. Food prices spiked over 700 percent during tightened siege periods and, although they eased after October, they remain far above pre-war levels, making full iftar meals largely unaffordable.
Read at www.aljazeera.com
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