March 27 | Bakeries in Gaza are on strike today. They want to raise the cost of bread (which was already expensive at $2.50 a loaf) because wheat prices are so high. So now there is another worry for Gazans.

Agriculture has been hit hard by the closure of crossings into Gaza. This has a particularly tragic dimension, as Gaza has always had a good reputation for farming, especially in the northern regions of Beit-Hanoon and Beit-Lahia. Now, because most farmers can't export crops out of the area, their businesses are suffering terrible losses.

In the past, we were known in Gaza for our beautiful carnations. Today, the flowers are not getting to brides or to vases in people’s homes. Farmers can’t sell the blossoms they have worked so hard to nurture and they are forced to feed them to their goats. Seven-hundred fifty farmers who work with flowers - supporting 4,500 families - are out of work. The total loss is near 14 million dollars.

At ANERA, we do what we can to help farmers keep their businesses solvent. Through our cash loans, farmers can buy seeds and fertilizers, when crossings are open and some of these goods are available. I hope that someday soon the beautiful carnations of Gaza can brighten people’s lives again.

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