Destroyed farms in Gaza spark meat shortage

Gaza Strip: Poultry is expensive nowadays in Gaza due to the massacre of thousands of chickens during the war. There is a shortage of meat and when there is any, it's so expensive that ordinary Palestinians cannot afford it.

"250,000 chickens - about 10 per cent of the total production - were killed during the war," UN Development Programme (UNDP) agricultural officer Jihad Al Khatib, based in Gaza told Gulf News. "The number of poultry farms destroyed during the war will create a 25 per cent deficit in Gaza's food security."

Most of the poultry farms are located in the buffer zone, along the Gaza-Israel border, and are still inaccessible, said Al Khatib. Some 17 per cent of cattle, sheep and goats were also killed.

"My three chicken farms near Netzarim [former colony where Israeli forces constructed a temporary military base during the war] were destroyed. Each farm was 650 square metres with 6,400 chickens," said Hussain Al Rayes, owner of the Steak House, a chicken distributor in Gaza City.

He estimates he lost 70 per cent of his business since the war, as prices have soared due to a shortage of chickens.

Before the war a kilogramme of chicken cost 30 shekels (Dh26) in Gaza, but now costs 48 shekels.

"Chicken farming stopped during more than three weeks of war, creating a gap," said Al Rayes.

Three of the 11 chicken hatcheries were completely destroyed and two partially destroyed, said Al Khatib, creating a gap in the short run because there is no hatching, reducing the production of livestock.

Meat from cattle and sheep is now hard to find in Gaza City, according to residents, after the main slaughterhouse serving Gaza City and the surrounding area was bombed.

Around 200 ground-water wells were destroyed and 53 severely damaged, of the 2,300 serving Gaza's agricultural lands, said Al Khatib.

Gaza's agricultural sector grew after the Islamist movement Hamas took control in June 2007 and since the 18-month blockade, most of the production has been sold on the local market.

In 2008 about 14,000 families were considered subsistence farmers, while 60,000 people were agricultural workers, according to UNDP.

Agricultural production and fishing comprised nearly 10 per cent of Gaza's economy.

Abu Ali Al Sarraj, a chicken farm owner, was sitting amidst the rubble of his farm.

He explained that "I have been working on that profession for [many] years. I have been growing my business by all efforts. Israelis came then left causing an earthquake in the area. They have killed these poor chickens; they are equal to human souls. They were suffocated and died due to hunger.

"I wonder why the Israelis killed these chickens. Why are they firing rockets into Israel? Did the poultry fire rockets at the troops or something? It's no laughing matter when you see this. And there was absolutely no reason for troops to be so vile," he added.

"As you know, people were unable to buy and sell meat before the war, what about now?" asked Ramzi Al Hams, 26, owner of a shop selling all kinds of meat. "We're facing difficulties in retaining our work in such conditions."

On January 5, Israeli tanks, troops and bulldozers attacked the Al Zeitoun neighbourhood south-east of Gaza City. In this area, called Al Samouni, Israel killed 49 members of the Samouni family, after soldiers ordered them to gather into a single home, which was shelled several hours later.

A number of chicken farms are located only a few metres from the Samouni house. These farms came under fire by Israeli forces and were totally bulldozed.

Thousands of chickens were caught in their sheds, as the bulldozers destroyed their cages. Some died immediately, others slowly without food or water for days.