Tag: animals

Eid al-Adha in Gaza without sacrificial animals, crisis worsens

GAZA: Palestinians in the Gaza Strip are set to celebrate Eid al-Adha for the third consecutive year amid what officials and residents describe as dire humanitarian conditions. In addition, widespread livestock shortages and soaring prices have also left most families unable to afford sacrificial animals, reported Qatar News Agency (QNA). The region's Ministry of Agriculture has reported that the livestock sector has been devastated by the ongoing war since October 2023, claiming the destruction of farms, veterinary facilities and food storage sites, as well as the killing of a large number of animals. According to the ministry, imports of live animals, food and veterinary medicines have dropped to "zero" due to the continued closure of crossings. Officials said Gaza previously received between 10,000 and 20,000 cows and 30,000 to 40,000 sheep each year ahead of Eid al-Adha, but this year supplies have completely declined, affecting the market. Traders and breeders say the number of remaining livestock has fallen sharply, with some traders estimating sheep availability at no more than 10 percent of pre-war levels and stressing that rising feed costs are driving many to abandon the sector. A livestock trader told the Qatar News Agency (QNA) he lost his farm and dozens of cows during the war and now only has a fraction of his previous stock, illustrating the difficulty of keeping animals safe in the face of prolonged insecurity. Prices, according to traders, have soared, with some traders reporting a sheep that previously cost around US$300 is now selling for between US$4,000 and US$5,000. Residents said the crisis meant traditional Eid celebrations could not take place. A mother of five who is homeless and living in a tent and struggling to feed her children, said the festival now brings "sadness rather than joy." Another resident said many families had not had the opportunity to see fresh meat for years, due to high prices, while others said they were now relying on limited food aid and getting by with prayer and fasting in the first days of Zulhijjah. Calls for international organizations to launch cross-border victim assistance programs intensified, as hopes continued to be pinned on an end to the conflict and relief from the blockade. -- BERNAMA-QNA

GAZA: Palestinians in the Gaza Strip are set to celebrate Eid al-Adha for the third consecutive year amid what officials and residents describe as dire humanitarian conditions. In addition, widespread livestock shortages and soaring prices have also left most families unable to afford sacrificial animals, reported Qatar News Agency (QNA). The region’s Ministry of Agriculture […]