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KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip - As millions of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip grapple with displacement and lack of food and water under Israel’s relentless attacks, their burden is made heavier by soaring prices.
Around 1.4 million Palestinians have taken refuge in Rafah since the outbreak of the Israel-Gaza war on October 7. While it was initially dubbed safe by Tel Aviv, which told Palestinians to evacuate to Rafah, it has come under intense Israeli offensives in the past weeks. Over 30,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s war on Gaza following the attack carried out by Hamas on October 7.
“People do not have enough money to buy supplies due to the high prices. For example, a kilo of tomatoes costs 15 shekels, and our lives have become very difficult,” Mohammed al-Qadi, a displaced Palestinian, told Rudaw on Tuesday, highlighting the impact of high prices on the already harsh reality of displaced Palestinians in the city of Rafah in the southern part of the Gaza Strip.
"Before the war, if you had fifty shekels, you could go to the market and buy lots of things. Today, a hundred dollars only gets you a few items," he added.
Palestinians under attack in the Gaza Strip lack sources of income, making it impossible for them to buy basic necessities in light of the high prices.
Maryam Hanoun, a displaced woman from the Gaza Strip, describes the situation in Rafah as "extremely challenging," citing excessive prices as a major concern.
“The situation here in Rafah is very difficult, as the price of all things has increased. For example, what used to be one shekel has become almost fifty times more, and the situation of all the people is disastrous,” Hanoun said.
“I, for example, cannot provide small children with their daily care, as there is neither sufficient food nor water, and obtaining them is difficult,” she added.
According to official Palestinian and international reports, the high prices of basic items are attributed to the insufficient amount of relief aid being delivered. The government media office in Gaza states that only about 100 trucks are permitted to enter per day, whereas the Strip requires around 1,000 trucks of aid daily.
On Tuesday, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) announced the first successful food delivery to the north of the Strip since 20 February, stressing that “With people in northern Gaza on the brink of famine,” the WFP needs deliveries every day and direct entry points to the northern areas of the Strip.
Around 1.4 million Palestinians have taken refuge in Rafah since the outbreak of the Israel-Gaza war on October 7. While it was initially dubbed safe by Tel Aviv, which told Palestinians to evacuate to Rafah, it has come under intense Israeli offensives in the past weeks. Over 30,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s war on Gaza following the attack carried out by Hamas on October 7.
“People do not have enough money to buy supplies due to the high prices. For example, a kilo of tomatoes costs 15 shekels, and our lives have become very difficult,” Mohammed al-Qadi, a displaced Palestinian, told Rudaw on Tuesday, highlighting the impact of high prices on the already harsh reality of displaced Palestinians in the city of Rafah in the southern part of the Gaza Strip.
"Before the war, if you had fifty shekels, you could go to the market and buy lots of things. Today, a hundred dollars only gets you a few items," he added.
Palestinians under attack in the Gaza Strip lack sources of income, making it impossible for them to buy basic necessities in light of the high prices.
Maryam Hanoun, a displaced woman from the Gaza Strip, describes the situation in Rafah as "extremely challenging," citing excessive prices as a major concern.
“The situation here in Rafah is very difficult, as the price of all things has increased. For example, what used to be one shekel has become almost fifty times more, and the situation of all the people is disastrous,” Hanoun said.
“I, for example, cannot provide small children with their daily care, as there is neither sufficient food nor water, and obtaining them is difficult,” she added.
According to official Palestinian and international reports, the high prices of basic items are attributed to the insufficient amount of relief aid being delivered. The government media office in Gaza states that only about 100 trucks are permitted to enter per day, whereas the Strip requires around 1,000 trucks of aid daily.
On Tuesday, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) announced the first successful food delivery to the north of the Strip since 20 February, stressing that “With people in northern Gaza on the brink of famine,” the WFP needs deliveries every day and direct entry points to the northern areas of the Strip.
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