COVID-19 to Palestinian businesses in Gaza. how was revived after

However, the effects are devastating for the Palestinian territories in particular, and for the Gaza Strip in particular.

With an economy already on the brink of collapse, dwindling purchasing power and Israeli restrictions on cross-border, economic activity in Gaza was already fragile, economist Mohamed Abujayyab told The Media Line, noting that “COVID The arrival of -19 has already worsened. Terrible situation.”

“Small businesses and micro-projects, which constitute 90% of the economic work components in Gaza, are the direct victims of anti-epidemic measures, including strict and prolonged shutdowns, as many of them collapsed and were taken out of the market, ” They said.

Business owners and traders find practical solutions and options to overcome the challenges of the pandemic and protect their enterprises.

“E-commerce and online marketing have increased economic activity by 40%. This is indicated by the volume of imports of external e-stores into the Palestinian territories,” said Abujayyab, who is based in Gaza.

“In addition, digital marketing has activated the transformation process in Gaza from traditional commerce to online trading, allowing new businesses such as delivery services to flourish,” he said.

Abujayab said the increasing use of social media to promote products has eased the burden of operating costs on small entrepreneurs, who are barely keeping their heads above water in light of the tough economic conditions.

Hiba al-Nakhla, her father and brother have a carpentry business in Gaza City called Antica Home since 2018. By recycling wood waste, Nakhla and her family create remarkable artistic pieces, antique-style furniture and gifts.

“Since we have worked on our marketing strategies, such as participating in exhibitions and growing our online presence on social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram, our business has grown tremendously. I personally worked on my marketing skills and learned what types of advertising best suited our products and target audience, which reflected positively on our sales,” she told Media Line.

Nakhla believes that Gazan’s mindset has changed since the pandemic. “They feel they now have more confidence in online trading and are more inclined to virtually start their own business,” she said.

Luna Alagha, another successful female entrepreneur, is a mom who used her expertise to start a business of growing rare ornamental plants and flowers in her small nursery and then marketing them in a creative way with artistic packaging and accessories.

Remarkably, Alagha managed to create a new type of agricultural soil that consists of palm fiber, which is widely available in coastal enclaves, instead of the rare algae and coconut fiber commonly used. She makes her own compost, designs her own plant accessories, and actively runs her Instagram and Facebook pages.

“Corona” [pandemic] I believe that without digital marketing, I can never grow and progress, especially since where my nursery is located is not a dynamic and its people are not familiar with ornamental plants,” she told Media Line. Told.

After signing up with a well-known company in Gaza City, Alagha is set to inaugurate its own Planting Corner Display within the coming two months.

“Soon, there will be a lot of work to do to introduce plants in an elegant and modern style, consider new collaborations with wood craftsmen, and more marketing efforts to maintain maximum customer satisfaction,” she said. .

A “one-piece approach to the current political, economic and security challenges in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) only risks perpetuating a continuing crisis,” according to a UN report published earlier this month. Calling for a coordinated and integrated response to uncertain situation.

Vala Moussa is a talented toy maker and assistant designer, and a prolific tailor who creates embroidered artwork and displays it on her Facebook page in hopes of generating income.

“Social media has undoubtedly increased the number of people who know about my work and who sometimes buy them, but there are huge challenges, mostly financial, before me in developing my work to the next level. ,” she told Media Line.

“Due to financial hardship, I am not able to pay for the necessary advertisements or buy the high quality content that I need in my work. This is stunting my progress and thus reducing my income,” says Moses he said.

For nearly 15 years, in addition to the devastating internal division between Gaza and the West Bank, Gazaan has been facing a serious human rights crisis due to the ongoing blockade by Israel and Egypt, affecting almost all aspects of life, which has made it more weakened. Palestinian social and political fabric.

According to Abujaib, if things do not change then the situation will become more difficult. To address the crisis, “several steps need to be taken,” he said.

“First, restore Palestinian unity at all levels, including the policy level. Next comes supporting economic development, and improving the living standards of Palestinian citizens,” he continued.

“This will lead us to the most important step, which is seeking to end the Israeli measures imposed on the Gaza economy such as preventing companies and industrial factories from developing their production lines, stopping the export of their products and The ban is preventing the import of essential raw materials,” he said.

“Israel’s control of the crossing, and the practice of political and financial extortion against the coastal enclaves, is a gross violation of Palestinian rights that must end,” Abujayyab said.