Gaza City: The gas shortage in Gaza has grown ever more dire, as filling stations for cooking fuel have been closed for over a month, according to Mahmoud Al Shawwa, who heads the committee to oversee gas stations in Gaza.
"At least 60 per cent of the bakeries here have run out of cooking gas," he said.
Since the Gaza invasion in January this year Israel has allowed in a limited amount of gas supplies. This is the first time since then that gas has not been allowed in. Israel closed the Nahal Oz border post for "security reasons" and the back-up border post of Kerem Shalom is not yet ready to be opened. It is not the first time Israel has used the influx of critical supplies as a form of mass punishment on the people of Gaza, it has been used many times in the past three years since the Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit was kidnapped.
"I must feed my family three meals a day, and all that is left is half a jar of gas which can last only for another two weeks. I don't know what to do when I run out," a Palestinian mother-of-five told Gulf News.
Some residents in Gaza have resorted to burning firewood in mud ovens for cooking, reminiscent of the cave era. However, even this primitive method requires know-how and adequate space. A old machine called a "babour", an archaic heater which works on diesel, has even been brought back to life. Kept in storage or even used as decoration, these machines have been cleaned and fixed as a last resort for Gazans.
According to previous agreements between Israel and the Palestinian National Authority, Israel must provide all necessities to the Palestinian territories.
Innovative
Fuel enters through the Rafah tunnels from Egypt since it comes in liquid form, but cooking gas needs very special care for transportation that the tunnels cannot accommodate.
"Gas needs very special pipes to make sure the gas will not turn into liquid, which renders it useless," Mohammad Abu Geshtah, who owns a tunnel explained to Gulf News.
"We used to smuggle gas jars from Egypt, but it is only good for one use, and it costs $50 (Dh183), which is not worth it," he explained.
The gas shortage has pushed others, like Mohammad Shameah, to become very innovative.
A policeman serving in the Hamas government, Shameah has found a way to cook using the methane gas found in animal manure.
"I put the manure on the top of the roof, and the pressure turns into gas, and it can be ignited just like regular gas and used for cooking," he explained.
