Unemployment rates in the Gaza Strip have skyrocketed to a shocking 79.1 percent following Israel’s military campaign in the region last year, as reported by the United Nations labor agency.
The International Labour Organization (ILO) revealed that joblessness in the West Bank has also surged to nearly 32 percent due to the ongoing crisis, resulting in an overall average unemployment rate of 50.8 percent across the Palestinian territories.
These statistics do not even account for individuals who have given up on seeking employment due to the bleak job market, indicating that the actual figures are even higher than reported.
Ruba Jaradat, the ILO regional director for Arab States, emphasized the severity of the situation, stating that many Palestinians have resigned themselves to the grim reality of being unable to find work.
Since the conflict began, Israeli attacks in Gaza have resulted in a staggering number of casualties, with thousands of people either killed, injured, or missing and presumed dead under the rubble.
On the other hand, the West Bank has also suffered significant losses, with hundreds killed and thousands wounded in Israeli assaults during the same period.
The economic impact of the war has been devastating, with the real GDP in the Palestinian territory shrinking by almost 33 percent, and a drastic 83.5 percent contraction in the Gaza Strip alone.
Prior to the conflict, half of Gaza’s population already lived below the poverty line, making the current situation even more dire as people struggle to provide food and basic necessities for their families.
The health of the population is also at risk due to the economic downturn, further exacerbating the challenges faced by the Palestinian people.
Article from www.aljazeera.com