Fuel and Flour Imports Restricted in Gaza Amid Rising Bread Shortages

Gaza City, Gaza – A long queue of people waited outside a bakery in Gaza City, with some individuals waiting for hours to purchase subsidized bread packages. The shortage is attributed to a decline in flour imports due to Israeli restrictions on imports into the territory.

The situation has worsened since Israel closed its crossings into Gaza on February 28, limiting the amount of goods that can enter the enclave. Despite this, the demand for bread remains high, driving up prices and creating a black market. The Government Media Office reported that Gaza needs approximately 450 tonnes of flour per day, but only 200 tonnes are currently being imported.

The World Food Programme (WFP) supplies bakeries with subsidized bread, which is sold at a capped price of around $1 for a bundle containing eight or nine pitas. However, the WFP has been forced to reduce its flour supplies due to Israel’s import restrictions, leaving many Palestinians without access to this essential food source.

A 72-year-old widow, Maysar Abu Rekab, expressed her difficulties in obtaining bread, stating that she and her family members with disabilities rely on it as a basic food item. The cost of a bread package has increased between $3.45 and $5.17, creating a heavy burden for households with low incomes.

Gaza is facing multiple crises, including a shortage of cooking gas supplies, which have decreased from once every six weeks to once every three months. The price of firewood, an alternative fuel for cooking and baking, has also risen. As a result, Palestinians in Gaza are increasingly reliant on bread from bakeries due to the difficulty of baking at home.

The Israeli government’s decision to limit imports into Gaza has had a significant impact on the territory’s food supply chain. The US-led Board of Peace has stated that it will not hold Israel accountable for implementing its side of the “ceasefire” unless Hamas agrees to disarm.

Source: Al Jazeera