The Gaza Strip is grappling with a dire humanitarian crisis, with poverty and unemployment rates soaring to unprecedented levels following Israel's war. Alaa Alzanin, a 41-year-old day laborer, is one of the many families struggling to survive. He used to work in infrastructure and farming, earning 40-50 shekels a day, but now he is jobless, unable to provide for his family of eight. Majed Hamouda, a 53-year-old man with polio, faces a similar plight. His family of five is surviving on charity and aid, with no income due to his health issues. The situation is so dire that some families go without food, and children like Yaqoub are forced to collect plastics and rubbish to sell for sustenance. The war has devastated the economy, with the GDP plunging 83% in 2024 and unemployment reaching 50% in Palestine, 80% in the Gaza Strip. The private sector, once the largest economic engine, has been severely impacted. The situation is so dire that the British government estimated 80% of the population was dependent on humanitarian assistance before the war. The government in Gaza estimates that 90% of all sectors, including housing and infrastructure, have been wiped out. The challenge ahead for Gaza is immense, with the need for economic recovery and rebuilding from the ashes of war. Alzanin and his pregnant wife, Mariam, are provided with some food but still lack income, highlighting the ongoing struggle for basic needs.
