The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) has revealed that the Israeli blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip for over eight years has resulted in the rise of poverty in the coastal enclave. The poverty rate for the first half of this year has now reached 38.8 per cent, said the NGO; 21.1 per cent of the poor are regarded as suffering from “extreme poverty”.
According to Anadolu, the PCHR said in a press release that the Israeli authorities continue to isolate Gaza and impose a strict ground and naval blockade on the territory.
The NGO also noted that in addition to causing a rise in the poverty rate, the Israeli blockade has caused unemployment to rise to 44 per cent. This indicates the extent of the unprecedented economic deterioration suffered by the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
“Israel’s isolation and siege of Gaza has resulted in grave violations of the economic, social and cultural rights of 1.8 million people,” said the PCHR, “as well as a serious deterioration in their living conditions.”
In May, the World Bank said that Gaza’s economy is one of the worst in the world, with unemployment at 43 per cent. That figure soars to nearly 70 per cent amongst those in the 20-24 age group.