15-year-old Gaza blockage continues to negatively affect the region, with a population of more than 2 million. The average unemployment rate is about 50 percent, according to the UN, even working people can no longer make a living due to economic crisis. The ongoing land, air, and sea blockade of the Gaza Strip has affected mostly women and children. The ongoing economic crisis has deepened due to the coronavirus pandemic.

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Gaza - Millions of people worldwide have lost their jobs due to the Covid-19 pandemic. People have faced difficult times due to the ongoing economic crisis. Gaza Strip has faced an economic crisis caused by both the pandemic and blockage. The ongoing land, air, and sea blockade of the Gaza Strip has affected mostly women and children. The average unemployment rate in Gaza is about 50 percent, according to the UN. Even working people can no longer make a living due to the ongoing economic crisis. People cannot even meet their basic needs due to the blockade causing the price increase. Women of Gaza have faced more difficult times due to both the pandemic and economic crisis.

Women are concerned about the increasing unemployment rate

30-year-old Omaima Helles is a working woman. She told us that her salary is not enough even for buying food. Food prices have been on the rise for the last three months in Gaza. “This should stop now,” Omaima Helles said, “My salary is not enough for buying what my children need. The prices are increasing every day due to the blockade. Children are hungry, how can they understand what blockage is? Taxes also often increase due to the blockade.”

Blockade causes humanitarian disaster

Financial analyst İman Al Khodari reminded that the blockade has been imposed in Gaza since 2006. She thinks the blockade has deepened in the last three months. “If only one person works in a family, the family members live on the breadline,” İman Al Khodari said, “When we look at the current economic situation, we can say that the blockade causes a humanitarian disaster. You don't need to be a financial analyst to say that.”

Production and industry are almost at a standstill

The economic depression has affected not only the purchase prices but also all sectors from production to consumption sectors, İman Al Khodari said, “The rate of unemployment is increasing day by day. The agricultural production is also decreasing. Production and industry are almost at a standstill due to the blockade.” The prices of food products are also increasing day by day in Gaza.

They still want to be hopeful!

“People stay away from their other needs to meet their basic foodstuff needs,” İman Al Khodari said that they still want to be hopeful to overcome these days.