How a simple lighter has become the backbone of life in Gaza
In Gaza City, Rabab Deifallah, a mother of five living in a tent, relies on a single, repaired lighter to start fires for cooking, heating water, and baking bread. The lighter has become a critical resource due to severe shortages of cooking gas and rising fuel costs caused by Israel's ongoing conflict in the region. Before the war, lighters were inexpensive and widely available, but now they are scarce and costly, forcing families to share them or rely on neighbors for sparks. Similarly, Hasnaa Mansour, displaced from a refugee camp, struggles to maintain a clay oven for cooking due to both a broken lighter and a lack of cooking gas. These challenges highlight the extreme difficulties faced by Gazans in meeting basic needs amidst the humanitarian crisis.
In Gaza, a simple lighter has become a lifeline for many struggling to survive under the ongoing humanitarian crisis. The device, once inexpensive and widely available, is now a rare commodity, with some residents spending up to $33 for a new one. For families like that of Rabab Deifallah, a mother of five living in a tent in Gaza City, the lighter represents the difference between warmth, sustenance, and hardship. Rabab uses her lighter to start fires for cooking, heating water, and baking bread, essential tasks in a region where cooking gas and fuel are scarce and expensive. Before the war began in October 2023, lighters could be bought for just $0.33 each. Now, they are a luxury, forcing families to share them or rely on neighbors for sparks. On days when no lighter is available, Rabab's family must eat cold meals or wait for a neighbor's fire to borrow a spark. In such moments, she sends a piece of cardboard to a neighbor to fetch a flame or asks to use their oven if they are baking bread. The challenge extends beyond individual households. Hasnaa Mansour, 43, a displaced resident from Jabalia refugee camp, faces similar struggles but through a different lens. With her family’s income dwindling, Hasnaa now bakes and sells food to support her six children. However, lighting her clay oven requires a stronger fire than the small spark from a lighter, making the task even harder. Recently, she sat by her oven from morning until 10 a.m., unable to light it despite sending her young daughter to find a working fire elsewhere. The effort highlights how the scarcity of lighters affects not just daily routines but also livelihoods. The shortage of lighters is part of a broader pattern of restricted access to essential goods in Gaza. According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Israel's continued siege has led to severe shortages and rising prices of basic supplies. Movement restrictions and closed crossings have compounded these issues, particularly for items deemed "dual-use" by Israeli authorities, which require special permits to enter Gaza. These measures have created barriers for the importation of everyday items, including lighters. The Gaza Chamber of Commerce and Industry noted in June that the limitations on crossing points and the procedures for importing commercial goods have significantly hindered the flow of products into the territory. Despite efforts to maintain trade, over 30,000 trucks entered Gaza in recent months, far below pre-war levels. This reduced influx exacerbates existing supply chain problems, leaving residents to cope with increasingly scarce resources. For many Gazans, the lighter symbolizes resilience and ingenuity in the face of adversity. It is a tool that bridges the gap between survival and comfort, enabling families to prepare meals, stay warm, and maintain a semblance of normalcy. Yet, its value has skyrocketed, forcing difficult choices between essentials like food and the means to prepare it. The situation underscores the deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where access to basic necessities continues to decline. As the conflict persists, the demand for lighters, and other critical items, remains high, while the availability of such goods remains constrained by external factors. The plight of individuals like Rabab and Hasnaa reflects the broader challenges faced by millions in the region, where every resource is scrutinized and prioritized in the relentless pursuit of survival.
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