Gaza War to Exacerbate Economic Crisis of Women and Cuse unprecedented Unemployment among Palestinians

ActionAid

 Gaza War to Exacerbate Economic Crisis of Women and Cuse unprecedented Unemployment among Palestinians
 
As well as losing loved ones, their homes and any semblance of safety and normality, hundreds of thousands of people in Gaza have also lost their livelihoods over the last six and half months and are now struggling to survive as the prices of essentials soar.  
As International Workers Day is marked around the world, poverty and unemployment in Gaza have reached unprecedented levels. Since October 7, at least 201,000 jobs have been lost, accounting for two thirds of total employment in Gaza, according to the International Labour Organisation. At the same time, the price of food and other essentials – when available – has skyrocketed, with reports of a bag of flour costing as much as £324 and one kilogram of sugar as much as £17, making them unaffordable for most of the population.

Almost all economic activity in Gaza has ground to a halt. With more than 85% of people displaced from their homes, and food and water scarce, most people are focused solely on their immediate survival, trying to find safe shelter and enough food for their families.

 
Buthaina Subeh, director of Wefaq, Society for Women and Child Care, ActionAid Palestine’s partner in Gaza, said newly widowed women were struggling after becoming the main breadwinners for their families overnight. Buthaina said: “Looking at the growing number of people killed, most of who were married and had families, many women have had to become the sole provider for their families...This is a great burden on their shoulders. [It’s] a psychological, financial, and sociological burden that drains these women.” 

She said projects previously set up by Wefaq to support women in gaining their own income had been forced to close. Buthaina said: ‘We had over 120 micro projects throughout the past few years; projects for women who had been abused to help them support themselves and to help them be financially independent. Sadly...none of these projects are operational anymore.  

“It is very difficult to keep the businesses running in the current circumstances. Because raw materials are either expensive or unavailable. Business owners are also unable to purchase products due to the high prices and the instability of prices going up and down which causes [them] to fear the future. Two women came for a consultation regarding the unstable prices, saying they fear buying materials and keeping them in stock. There is this fear of paying extra then losing the money due to a sudden price drop. There is a major financial risk for them. They had to cease their work and projects; and they lost their source of income.”