GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Donkeys and mules have become increasingly important as a means of transportation in Gaza, with the Israeli-Egyptian blockade creating a worsening  fuel crisis affecting all aspects of daily life. Just how important was made clear at a press conference near the al-Yarmouk dump on Nov. 24, when Minister of Local Government Mohammed al-Farra announced that all garbage trucks had ceased operating and added, “The government has deducted [money] from the salaries of employees to hire 430 workers to collect waste off the streets of Gaza by means of animal carts.” 

Livestock had also played a role earlier in the blockade, helping ease transportation woes and the cultivation of crops after tilling machines became unusable. Fawzy al-Agha recalls those days. “When the 2008 blockade intensified, anyone who owned a donkey was seen as lucky. Vehicles were no longer functional as fuel became scarce. The price of donkeys skyrocketed, reaching more than $1,000,” he told Al-Monitor. “I dread that this scenario might be repeated. It would be a disaster.”

Municipalities' reliance on animal carts to collect refuse provides job opportunities for the poorest in Palestinian society, giving them a chance to earn money. At his news conference, Faraa revealed that 1,700 tons of refuse are collected daily.

Mounir al-Saidi strikes out every day at dawn on his animal cart to collect garbage from the streets and bins. He told Al-Monitor: “The municipality of Gaza called me up recently due to the crisis it is going through. My role is limited to collecting refuse and taking it to al-Yarmouk dump in downtown.” Loading trash onto the back of his cart, he said that the municipality had offered cart owners $280 a month, provided they fill theirs carts and work responsibly.