Palestine – Russian-Ukraine war casts a shadow on Gaza’s economy

Location: Gaza- Palestine

Language: Arabic

Voice: Natural

Duration: 00:05:28

Source: A24       

Restrictions: A24 Clients

Dateline: 11-03-2022

Storyline

Russian-Ukraine war has caused a rise in food supplies, especially wheat, in several countries, in addition to the halting of commercial shipping.

No sooner had the economic situation in the Strip gradually recovered from the repercussions of the pandemic; than this war came to deepen the suffering of people as the increase in the prices of raw materials affected the food industries, in light of the almost complete dependence on imported materials.

Some factory owners estimated that the price hike so far reached 200%, and it is still rising, leading to a decrease in demand for many products.

Shotlist

• (SOUNDBITE) M. Shaima El-Telbani – Executive Director of Al-Awda Factories:

“The price hike in raw material and its transport due to the pandemic forced us to increase the prices of products. It was a global decision. Now we are afraid of more rises due to Russia-Ukraine War especially in wheat and oil, because we mainly depend on them, and now it is difficult to import these two products from the two countries.”

• (SOUNDBITE) Shadi Abu Nadi – Marketing and Sales Manager at Al-Awda Factories:

“The tension between Russia and Ukraine led to a decrease in the demand for raw materials. The two countries produce wheat and vegetable oils, which are essential in our manufacture of biscuits, chips, and ice cream, and now the import of these materials is limited. Previously, the import issue was in Gaza only, now the issue is global. Now the rate of increase for some materials has reached 200%, which is a global increase. I had to raise prices to save electricity, workers’ wages, and the factory’s basic requirements.”

• (SOUNDBITE) Shadi Abu Nadi – Marketing and Sales Manager at Al-Awda Factories:

“The political crisis between Ukraine and Russia has made it difficult for the two countries to export products. Now I only sell 300-400 products out of 1000 because the rise in raw materials and products affected the demand.”