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Occupied Palestinian Territories and Israel

Markets continue to play a major role in the lives and livelihoods of the population of Gaza - before, during and after times of acute crisis and conflict.

Report authors: 
Corrie Sissons and Lisa Biblo
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Years of blockades and the depletion of natural resources have severely impacted prospects for economic development of the Gaza Strip. As of 2012, more than one million people in Gaza were living below the poverty line. This report presents the results of an early PCMMA of the wheat flour market system, which is very important in the local economy and local diets. The study considers the likely impact of two hypothetical but possible scenarios on the wheat flour market system. Because of low purchasing power and high food prices, poor households in Gaza are heavily reliant on aid agencies to supply most of their wheat flour needs. This report suggests two additional critical issues that need to be considered: price adaptations in case of increases in private demand and the purchasing power of the food aid beneficiaries. It recommends providing cash and/or vouchers for wheat flour to increase household purchasing power and creating strategic grain reserves in Gaza to control wheat flour prices.

Report authors: 
not specified
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Since the attacks of 2009 until 2012, unemployment in the Gaza Strip remains very high, and average wage levels remain low. Vulnerable households with low incomes and limited or no employment will continue to require support to meet their basic food and non-food needs. The study used a livelihoods perspective and looked at the broiler chicken market as an income market. It also looked at the impacts of the previous two wars to analyse what the impacts of a future similar crisis could be. In this sense, this study was really more of an early PCMMA than an EMMA. This report recommends supporting existing small-scale broiler producers; providing inputs to small-scale producers who experienced losses as a result of wars and who have the potential for sustainability to restart their production; the facilitation of follow-up trainings in poultry production management; advocacy with the Ministry of Agriculture to improve/provide positive support and registration for small-scale producers; advocacy to relevant ministries to provide compensation for losses resulting from conflicts and/or epidemics; facilitating access to credit providers for small-scale producers to prevent them remaining dependent on middlemen for financial services; and conducting further analysis on the chicken feed, gas and credit markets.

Report authors: 
Emmeline Saint
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