Israel's war, energy crisis and blockade have made the people of Gaza dependent on donkeys for survival. Amina Abu Maghasib from the central Gaza city of Deir al-Balah is one of those people, whose main livelihood depends on a donkey and its cart.
Amina said, “Before the war, I used to sell milk and curd, factories used to buy milk from me.” But now my only source of income is this donkey and car.
Donkey carts were relatively rare in Gaza before the war began. However, they are now the main means of transportation due to energy shortages and a damaged transportation system as a result of Israel's war and blockade.
fight for life
Refugees from Gaza ride on donkey carts with their belongings to seek safe shelter after fleeing the bombardment. Donkey carts are the only form of transportation for many.
Marwa Yes traveled with his family on a donkey cart. The mother of three said it costs her 20 shekels ($5.40) to travel from Deir al-Balah to Nusayra. It's too much. But in the current situation it seems appropriate.
He also said that at the beginning of the war, I was ashamed to ride in a donkey cart, but now there is no other option.
Inflation and crisis
According to data from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the war has killed 43 percent of Gaza's working animals—including donkeys, horses, and mules—as of August 2024. Only 2,627 active species are alive today.
Amina said, the only cost of her donkey is food. But the cost of human as well as animal food is skyrocketing. He said, I bought this donkey on loan. The previous donkey was killed by shrapnel from a bomb in Deir al-Balah. He had to spend two and a half thousand shekels to buy the new donkey.
Bad days
Abdel Misbah, 32, is a refugee in the south from Gaza City. He and his family now transport goods by donkey cart.
Misbah said, before the war, I used to sell vegetables in a car. Now I do delivery work. The donkey panicked during the bombing.
He said that the price of barley per sack has increased from three shekels to 50 shekels. Try to feed the donkey well, even though the price has gone up a lot.
‘A donkey is worth more than gold’
The Israeli blockade has severely disrupted the movement of food and goods into Gaza. The crisis has been exacerbated by war-torn roads, fuel shortages and repeated displacement of people in search of safe haven.
Yusuf Muhammad, 23, fled the northern Gaza Strip to Khan Yunis in the south. He referred to his donkey as the 'lifesaver of the family'. He said, after the start of the war, the car fares became very high. Donkeys were the only hope then. Thank God, the donkey was there when we needed it.
Thousands of people took to the streets with their belongings for safety after the Israeli army ordered them to leave. At such times the donkey cart became the only recourse for many.
Hosni Abu Warda, 62, said his house was destroyed in the northern area of ​​Jabalia. He waited for a donkey cart for 14 hours to escape from there. Back then, he said, donkeys were more valuable than gold and more essential than modern cars.
Source: AFP
