Gaza, August 21, 2009 (Pal Telegraph)- In the market, sellers can be heard urging buyers to purchase goods before the start of the holy month of Ramadan. Goods to be purchased would be very little, if not for those which pass through the tunnels. Those that do line the shelves and tables are outrageously expensive, with only a few being able to afford the prices. Even the start of Ramadan will not motivate Gazans to purchase goods. The cause is the rise in poverty, which is a product of the continuing siege on Gaza.
High prices
Abu Hassan, an owner of a vegetable store in the corner market of Gaza City, attributes the rise in prices to the siege. "There is a rise in the prices of vegetables and fruits in this season, as a result of the Israeli siege on Gaza Strip and the high cost charged to farmers. Although it is the third time for us to spend Ramadan under siege, sales are down by 60% compared to those over the last three years."
"The market is in a recession, despite the approaching of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan," said Abu Alam, an owner of a butchers shop. "The price of meat is three times higher than the past years due to Israel not permitting it to pass through the borders."
According to Atef, a tool cleaning vendor, the high prices are from the lack of access to goods coming from the Israeli crossing points, the prohibition on what can enter, and those which come through the tunnels. Goods would not be coming through the tunnels, if Israel did not prohibit their entrance or restrict the level of foodstuff. Confounding the problem of high prices is low income. It is therefore not surprising that there is an absence of consumers. The people are suffering.
Suffering
With the suffering, many ponder how to feed their families. "We have never seen these high prices, low income and level of unemployment such as this year; we must but what is necessary and ignore everything else. It is too hard for us and we don't know how we will go on," says Abu Samir, a father of five and a grandfather of nine. Hossam, a father of three sons, wonders how he can feed his children. Parents are not the only ones suffering.
Youth also have issues that exacerbate their own suffering. Ahmed, who should be finished preparing to marry, is shocked and confused by the high the prices and low incomes. "Sometimes I regret thinking about getting married because of the situation. I don't know how people can afford their lives." The collapse of the economy is adding additional burdens to the lives of the young and old.
Economic collapse
The Gaza Strip is collapsing economically because of tightened siege. According to the International Committee of the Red Cross, "the economic collapse in the Gaza Strip is as a result of the Israeli siege, which has led the unemployment rate to increase by 44% since April 2009. This is a huge increase in the percentage of poverty, with 70% of the population living in poverty and on 30 dollars a month." How could any individual live on such a small amount? How can one consider getting married or starting a family? How can one even have a future?
As Ramadan approaches, Palestinians living in Gaza will be struggling with high prices, unemployment and suffering. They will be worrying how to fed their families and survive from one day to the next.
Salem El-rayyes
PT Exclusive writer
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