Struggle for survival

As aid dries up, Gaza families are pushed deeper into poverty, writes Fares Akram and Mohammed Daraghmeh from the Gaza Strip

LARGE numbers of Gaza families have been pushed deeper into poverty in recent months by Palestinian political infighting and the freezing of US aid.

Life is tougher than ever for most of the 2 million Palestinians locked into tiny, blockaded territory, where electricity is off most hours of the day, unemployment approaches 50% and the militant group Hamas rules with a tight grip.

Samia Hassan used to have enough money to feed her two dozen children and grandchildren.

Now she spends much of her time worrying about food, scouring Gaza’s vegetable markets for end-of-day discounts or walking miles for a pot of free gruel from a soup kitchen.

Growing despair in Gaza has helped drive recent Hamasled protests against the border blockade by Israel and Egypt. – AP

PICTURES: AP Palestinian Walid al-Hattab, 50, dishes up free wheat porridge to help poor families during the holy fasting month of Ramadaan in the Shijaiyah neighbourhood of Gaza City.

A Palestinian girl carries free wheat porridge distributed by Walid al-Hattab to help poor families during Ramadaan in Gaza City.

Samia Hassan returns home with wheat porridge distributed by Walid al-Hattab,

Samia Hassan and her son’s wife and children in their family house.