UNICEF Gaza Humanitarian Cash Transfer Monthly Bulletin
Reporting Period May 2025
About
Another month of complete blockade to the entry of all goods into the Gaza Strip has further worsened an already dramatic market situation. Many essential goods have now been completely unavailable for two months (e.g. meats, dairy products, most fuel), and some that in April 2025 were still to be found – albeit with difficulties and at extremely prices – in the 2nd week of May were not (milk and even flour in Khan Younis). Small local production has surprisingly sustained the limited availability of specific goods at very high prices, such as vegetables and even eggs which are being sold for 63 NIS (18 USD) for 6 units in the Gaza governorate.
• Beyond availability, the worsening of prices was once again extreme. As of the 2nd week of May 2025 , across all governorates the
price of wheat flour increased between 450% and 709% compared to one month before. The price of sugar for the same period
increased between 150% and 252% and the price of salt between 40% and 100%. Onions, tomatoes, and cucumbers cost between
125% and 1,100% more than in the third week of the last ceasefire period. Across all governorates, food prices are now significantly
higher than in the harsh period right before the ceasefire (early January 2025 as comparison). The only category and governorate for
which this is not the case are fresh vegetables in the North, and this is due to seasonality and the presence of small local production.
• Most families manage to hang on only by leveraging different sources of assistance: cash assistance - which remains the main one
for surveyed respondents - in-kind assistance (including food from community kitchens), and charitable donations from other
community members. These are often complemented with some work-related income. In the current environment, all this together
cannot come even close to respond to the needs of a family – and this is confirmed both by the post distribution monitoring survey
and by qualitative interviews.
• Retailers’ stock levels decreased further and are particularly worrying in the case of grains (rice and flour). Moreover, the fragility
of the situation has an impact on security: 49% of the surveyed vendors are worried about robberies to them or their clients and 23%
are afraid of looting. In February 2025 - during the last ceasefire period - these numbers were significantly lower (10% feared
robberies and only 3% looting).
• Based on our market interviews, 30% of vendors accept digital transfers as a form of payment – and those who don’t, mention the
need to resupply through cash. Acceptance of digital payments variates depending on the goods sold by the vendor. In the case of
hygiene products 40% of vendors accept them, for baby needs products 45%, and for healthcare products 72%, and for
communication items 40%.
