The bread crisis is exacerbating

The bread crisis in the Gaza Strip continues, with declining production, the closure of several bakeries, and shortages of fuel and flour. Obtaining a loaf of bread has become a daily struggle for residents, revealing a growing imbalance in the food market at a time when most families rely on humanitarian aid to meet their basic needs.

Data indicates a decrease in production of more than 30%, while demand remains high, widening the gap between supply and demand and creating an environment conducive to price hikes and the emergence of a black market.
The bread crisis in the Gaza Strip continues, with declining production, the closure of several bakeries, and shortages of fuel and flour. Obtaining a loaf of bread has become a daily struggle for residents, revealing a growing imbalance in the food market. This comes at a time when most families rely on humanitarian aid to meet their basic needs.

Data indicates a more than 30% decrease in production, while demand remains high. This has widened the gap between supply and demand, creating an environment conducive to price hikes and the emergence of a black market.

While a loaf of bread subsidized by the World Food Programme is sold for 3 shekels, its price in the market ranges between 7 and 15 shekels. This places a significant burden on families, especially given declining incomes and soaring flour prices, with a bag of flour increasing from 25 to 100 shekels.

Bread is a staple food directly linked to food security, exacerbating the crisis amidst already dire living conditions.

Palestinian Samir Baroud says that obtaining bread now requires a daily effort beyond the capacity of residents, given the severe overcrowding and limited availability. He explains that many people head to distribution points in the early hours of the morning, but being even a few minutes late could mean missing out on bread.

He adds that the sight of citizens returning home empty-handed after hours of waiting has become commonplace, noting that the crisis is no longer limited to bread but extends to parents feeling helpless to meet their families’ needs.

For his part, Wael Darwish says the problem isn’t just the queues, but also the difficulty of affording the subsidized loaf, given the lack of cash and weak purchasing power. He points out that the shortage of small change has become part of the daily struggle, forcing some to borrow money or search for change before even going to buy bread.