Delays in the payment of PA employees have increased the economic crises and burdens in the besieged Gaza Strip for 14 years, and have left its markets in a recession like no other for many years.
Delays in the payment of PA employees have increased the economic crises and burdens in the besieged Gaza Strip for 14 years, and have left its markets in a recession like no other for many years.
Shopkeepers complain that the buying and selling movement has declined significantly in all areas related to the farmers or construction sectors and even the sale of clothing, vegetables, fruits and meat.
Shopkeepers complain that the buying and selling movement has declined significantly in all areas related to the farmers or construction sectors and even the sale of clothing, vegetables, fruits and meat.
Mohammed al-Najjar, a fruit shop owner at Khanyounis Market, told The Palestine News Network that the situation has been declining significantly in recent days due to the non-payment of salaries, noting that markets in Gaza rely heavily on the salaries of the approximately 30,000 PALESTINIAN Authority employees.
Mohammed al-Najjar, a fruit shop owner at Khanyounis Market, told The Palestine News Network that the situation has been declining significantly in recent days due to the non-payment of salaries, noting that markets in Gaza rely heavily on the salaries of the approximately 30,000 PALESTINIAN Authority employees.
He pointed out that the volume of sales decreased significantly, and that the citizen who preferred to buy a large quantity of fruits, resorted to buying important ones from them, in a small amount and at the lowest possible price, and often the goods remain edited in stores without being sold.
He pointed out that the volume of sales decreased significantly, and that the citizen who preferred to buy a large quantity of fruits, resorted to buying important ones from them, in a small amount and at the lowest possible price, and often the goods remain edited in stores without being sold.
He pointed out that a large number of shopkeepers are considering closing it because of lack of purchasing power, noting that everyone in Gaza is affected by the salaries of employees.
He pointed out that a large number of shopkeepers are considering closing it because of lack of purchasing power, noting that everyone in Gaza is affected by the salaries of employees.
Fadi al-Helou, owner of a building materials shop, said the merchant, seller and consumer are all tied to the salaries of PA employees, noting that there is an unprecedented recession in the construction materials sector.
Fadi al-Helou, owner of a building materials shop, said the merchant, seller and consumer are all tied to the salaries of PA employees, noting that there is an unprecedented recession in the construction materials sector.
Al-Helou said that the owners of different shops are now unable to claim the employees with the accumulated debts, because their salaries are not paid, pointing out that there are shopkeepers, especially supermarkets, who stopped selling "debt" to employees because they can not afford any other material losses under difficult conditions.
He pointed out that there are shopkeepers who did not stop the debts for the benefit of the employees, especially since a large number of them have been dealing with those shops for years, and that he feels responsible to stand by them, pointing out that these shops will not last long in the continuity of their debt and will eventually resort to demanding debt if the salary crisis continues.
Nidal Abu Obeid, a street vendor, described the situation as very difficult, saying a simple colloquial "country is dry", referring to the decline in the movement of buying and selling and the impact of citizens on the salary crisis.
Abu Obeid pointed out that the work of restaurants, shops and markets in general has been largely halted, noting that this decline affected the merchant, seller and consumer, and prevented all of them from improving their living conditions, which were essentially reduced by Israeli actions and the suffocating siege on the Gaza Strip.
According to a report by the Al-Mezan Center for Human Rights, the proportion of families suffering from food insecurity in the Gaza Strip has approached at least 73%, noting that the humanitarian situation is deteriorating significantly, unprecedented as a result of the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip, restrictions on economic activities to prevent the spread of the Corona pandemic, as well as the salary crisis.
The Center expressed concern that thousands of people continue to fall into poverty, calling for a boost in cash and food aid to curb the worsening humanitarian situation.
The Centre called on the international community to intervene quickly to end the siege of Gaza and to provide support and support to the Palestinians.
Unemployment is expected to exceed more than half of the workforce, with the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBA) accounting for 46% in the first quarter of 2020.
According to the Palestinian Ministry of Finance, the israeli occupation authorities´ seizure of clearing funds and the decline in economic conditions, as a result of the recession, led to a sharp decline in public revenues of 60-70%.
May 2020 revenues were recorded at 237 million shekels, distributed between domestic revenues of 137 million shekels and external support of about 100 million shekels, while the amount of clearing funds was zero, bringing the amount of the fiscal deficit for May (863) million shekels.
He pointed out that the lack of salaries so far has compounded the suffering of the population due to the continuing deterioration of the economic conditions, and has been reflected in the food sector, where the challenges and obstacles to citizens seeking food in quantity and quality are sufficient to meet the food needs of individuals.
Al-Mezan warned of the continuing deterioration of the humanitarian situation and its disastrous repercussions on society, particularly food insecurity, stressing that strengthening international support, support and effective interventions to contain the effects of the pandemic remains crucial to protecting the population of the Gaza Strip and restoring the Gaza Strip to the acceptable path, as remittances are a lifeline in light of the widespread unemployment and poverty.
