GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Since the outbreak of the Russian war on Ukraine Feb. 24, Palestinians in the Gaza Strip have been affected by the crisis’ repercussions, which negatively reflected on the population’s living conditions, especially the poor and the most vulnerable. They have been affected by the soaring prices of some basic foodstuffs, such as wheat, cooking oil, sugar and some types of legumes.

Gaza imports wheat from Russia through Israel, and large quantities of vegetable oil from Ukraine. According to experts in the Ministry of Economy in the Gaza Strip, the current wheat stock in the coastal enclave would last for only two months.

Meanwhile, cooking oil started to run out on the local market, while the prices of available items increased significantly. These foodstuffs are considered indispensable basic products, especially for the poor.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) estimates that 80% of the 2 million people in Gaza — most of whom are refugees — do not have any food security and depend on relief and financial aid. Many organizations, however, recently cut down on relief assistance because of a decrease in external funding, which affected thousands of Gazan families.