UNICEF Gaza Humanitarian Cash Transfer Monthly Bulletin
Reporting Period March 2025
About
Key messages
• While markets in the Gaza strip are still at least partially functional thanks to the effects of 42-days ceasefire, the data presented in the
current report shows that between March 2 and March 13 the situation for children and their families significantly worsened because
of the complete ban on entry of goods and commodities to the Gaza Strip. Moreover, the experience of the last 17 months shows
that the situation with the markets in the Gaza Strip may deteriorate fast and through an unpredictable trajectory, due to rapidly
depleting stocks and increasing prices.
• Until the 23rd of February, prices were decreasing for all product types - a positive trend largely caused by the ceasefire and the lifting
of entry restrictions. In the week of the 24th of February, anticipation of a likely failure to move to Phase 2 of the ceasefire agreements
caused an increase in the average price of some categories of goods - and since March 2, 2025 the ban on entry of goods has caused a further spike.
• A large share of all vendors surveyed in the week of 10th of March 2025 indicated that their supplies have been decreasing either
significantly (54%) or slightly (25%), and that their stocks are either very low (less than a week, 50%) or low (1-2 weeks, 26%).
• The presence and the price of flour – a critical food item – by the week of the 10th of March had not yet been significantly impacted.
However, for virtually all food items prices have been increasing and for some (for instance potatoes) are either comparable or even
surpassed the pre-ceasefire (January 19, 2025) levels.
• In the week of the 10th of March, different types of meat and other perishable products such as yogurt have almost disappeared from
the markets. This is likely a consequence of the lack of fuel-powered refrigeration.
• While some of the durable non-food items have been so far less impacted (e.g. hygiene items like detergents, shampoo or toothpaste), the availability of other ones (e.g. cooking gas, blankets) has become extremely unpredictable.
• Even in such context, 98% of the post distribution monitoring respondents prefer unrestricted cash assistance over other forms of
assistance. Considering all sources of income and assistance, cash assistance is the primary source of income for most beneficiaries in
the last month, with 49% identifying it as their first source, 22% as their second.
