Gaza residents face extreme scarcity of basic tools like lighters

In Gaza, the scarcity of basic goods has turned simple items like lighters into essential tools for survival. Due to shortages of cooking gas and soaring fuel prices, residents rely heavily on firewood to bake bread, heat water, and prepare food.

Before the conflict began in October 2023, lighters were inexpensive and widely available. Currently, the price of a new lighter has risen significantly, ranging between $27 and $33, forcing families to make difficult choices between purchasing ignition tools or essential food items like flour. Many families must share a single lighter across multiple tents or rely on neighbors to borrow a spark to start fires.