A Palestinian statistical report showed today, Sunday, that 42 percent of Palestinian families in the West Bank and Gaza Strip lost half of their income during the closure period to limit the spread of the new Coronavirus disease (Covid-19), from March 5. Until last May 25.
The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics stated in a report, that “two out of every five families had their income decreased by half or more during the closure period compared to February, by 46 per cent in the West Bank and 38 per cent in Gaza, while 31 per cent were not available. Families are sources of income to cover household expenses during the lockdown. "
The report indicated that 58% of Palestinian families usually borrow money or buy on debt to cover household expenses, including food, and this percentage increased during the closure period to reach 63%.
According to the report, the declaration of a state of emergency and the closure of all public and private institutions as a result of the restrictions imposed by the government to confront Corona, in addition to the commitment to stay at home, constituted a major reason in the West Bank to stop working.
The report said that the Corona crisis has significantly affected wage flows, in the private and government sectors, and other sectors.
He pointed out that the impact of the crisis on wages was completely different in the West Bank compared to the Gaza Strip, as 61% of the main breadwinners employed in the West Bank had unpaid work compared to 31% in Gaza who did not receive their usual wages.
As of Saturday, the Palestinian Ministry of Health had recorded 52013 cases of corona since the outbreak of the disease last March, including 8,516 active cases, while the total deaths reached 390 cases.
