GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Yousef Abu Muammar can no longer provide for his family of five. He had to stop working at a Gaza City beach cafe because of restrictions the Ministry of Interior implemented March 22, including closing wedding halls, cafes, restaurants and markets, to contain the spread of the coronavirus.
Hamas-run local authorities in Gaza have been gradually imposing preventive measures after two people who had come through the Rafah border crossing with Egypt tested positive for the virus. The total number of infections in Gaza stood at 13 as of April 15. The new measures have increased unemployment and affected all economic movements, according to observers.
Abu Muammar told Al-Monitor, “I have had no source of income since the cafe I worked at closed two weeks ago.”
Hundreds of workers in Gaza have lost their jobs as a result of the restrictions. “I used to earn about $30 a day. I am trying to provide for my family’s urgent needs with a small amount I had saved up, but I am running out of money and soon I will be unable to feed my children,” he added.
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