New study shows shocking economic and psychological toll of Covid-19 in Gaza

Covid-19 crisis: monthly incomes in Gaza have fallen by almost 90 per cent, research finds

The monthly income of workers in Gaza has fallen by almost 90 percent since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic and tens of thousands have lost their jobs, according to new research by aid organisation Islamic Relief.

Almost 60 percent of people are no longer able to afford basic food, medicine and other essential supplies, and 82 percent are suffering from mental health issues such as anxiety and stress because they are increasingly unable to support their families. Many are forced to make the impossible choice between buying food for their children or medicine for sick relatives. The past few weeks have seen Covid-19 cases in Gaza escalate at the highest rate yet, and Islamic Relief is warning that the impact is likely to get worse as winter approaches.

Islamic Relief carried out the study of more than 2,000 workers in key industries across Gaza, including agriculture, small businesses, pre-primary education, fishing, hairdressing and hospitality. The research found the “double lockdown” of Covid-19 on top of more than a decade of crippling Israeli blockade is pushing families deeper into hunger, destitution and psychological harm:

  • The average monthly income has fallen from $244 to $29 since March. Many people are currently earning nothing at all as businesses have shut down.
  • 92% of people surveyed said they have not received any government or non-government food or cash support during the pandemic. International aid to Gaza has been severely cut in recent years.
  • 82% show signs of mental health issues and almost one in five people are unable to sleep due to insomnia or nightmares as a result of the current situation
  • Despite this, 65% don’t know how to access mental health and psychosocial support services
  • Only 26% now have regular access to places selling fruit and vegetables
  • Although 81% say they have received the information they need about Covid-19, only 42% can access or afford protective material such as face masks
  • 80% of small-scale agricultural labourers have been laid off, according to one union. Those who can still work have seen their daily income cut from $9 to $3.

Muneeb Abu-Ghazaleh, Country Director for Islamic Relief Palestine, said:

“After years of blockade, Gaza’s economy has been destroyed and people face a daily struggle to feed their families. Now Covid-19 has pushed many people over the edge. The psychological impact of not being able to feed your children or buy medicine for your loved ones, and not knowing if you will ever be able to work again, is enormous. Communities and neighbours are coming together and sharing food to try and help each other, but people here need much more support from the rest of the world, starting with an end to the blockade.”

Waseem, 25, who has lost most of his work as a barber, said: “My wife suffers from epilepsy and my father is sick with cancer. When I used to work I bought their medication. But now with corona I don’t have money to buy it. My father has stopped his doses for cancer and my wife’s condition has worsened again. My soul is tired. I feel helpless and I cannot do anything. I fear and grieve for my children when they see their mother’s condition like that.”

Ehab, 30, suffers from a rare genetic disease. He said: “I’m supposed to take four pills a day. But I’ve been out of work due to corona so I can only afford three pills. I know this will harm my health but when I have a little money I first provide food for my family. I’m afraid that if I die I don’t know what will happen to my children and my wife. I feel very helpless.”

Alaa, a kindergarten teacher is the sole breadwinner for her two children. She says: “The salary I got (before the pandemic) is little but I wish I could return to it tomorrow. We didn’t get salaries for the past two months. This worries me because the corona pandemic is still going on and I don’t know when I will be able to return to work. I don’t know what to do if it lasts for months longer – how do I tell the children that I cannot bring the food they need?”

Since 2007, Gaza has been under a blockade that severely restricts the movement of goods and people in and out of the region. Even before the Covid-19 pandemic around 80 per cent of people were in need of aid, according to the UN. Gaza has one of the highest unemployment rates in the world, with 49.1% of the adult population currently without work. Suicide attempts in Gaza have increased by about 250% in the last ten years under blockade.

Islamic Relief is calling for an end to the blockade of Gaza. It is also calling on international donors to invest more in supporting those most at risk with cash or voucher programmes – such as cash-for- work projects targeting people who have lost their jobs, or food vouchers where not possible – and promoting subsidised access to psychosocial support services.

Notes to editors

  • The study was conducted by Islamic Relief in late September 2020. It interviewed 2,013 workers from all five governorates in Gaza and focused on seven professions: agricultural farmers and labourers; Industry workers; kindergarten workers; fishermen; hairdressers; restaurants and stall owners and workers; and school bus drivers. Key Informant Interviews were also carried out with representatives of seven of the largest trade unions and professional associations. Interviews were conducted via phone to comply with social distancing.
  • As of 6th November 2020, there are 7,760 confirmed Covid-19 cases in Gaza. Nearly half of these were reported in October alone.
  • Islamic Relief has been working in Gaza since 1994 and implements programmes including food distribution, healthcare and psychosocial support. It is currently running a Gaza Emergency Appeal http://islamic-relief.org/category/appeals/emergencies/gaza-emergency-appeal/
  • Islamic Relief staff in Gaza are available for interview
new director

Director of Network and Resource Development

Adnan joined Islamic Relief in 2004 as a regional fundraiser in the UK. He worked in multiple roles over 10 years at Islamic Relief UK, including setting up the first digital team and leading the growth of digital fundraising and engagement. Adnan also led numerous fundraising and marketing campaigns, which played a significant part in the growth of Islamic Relief UK.

Having moved to Islamic Relief Worldwide in 2014, Adnan has held different roles that have helped grow Islamic Relief’s global digital footprint into new geographic territories, supporting Islamic Relief members with their digital and marketing growth as well as developing new products and initiatives for the Islamic Relief family.

Adnan graduated in Industrial Design and Technology from Loughborough University. He has since completed an Advanced Diploma in Business Administration from Durham University and a Diploma in Digital Marketing from the Institute of Data and Marketing.

Nadeem Azhar

General Counsel

Nadeem joined Islamic Relief Worldwide in September 2022. He has worked in the charitable sector for over a decade.

He studied Modern History and Politics at Manchester University, and at the University of Law in London before qualifying as a solicitor in 2011.

Nadeem is an experienced corporate, commercial and governance lawyer, having worked with various faith-based and grant making charities as well those in health and education settings. He was a partner at a law firm in London before moving in-house where he focused on setting up and restructuring charities and social enterprises.

Most recently, Nadeem was Lead Counsel at Mind, a leading mental health charity, where he co-authored a new federation agreement, revamped legal processes, and played a major role in developing its strategic and fundraising partnerships.

Nadeem has been a charity trustee for the Seafarers Charity, as well as many grant-making bodies and theatre companies.

Adnan Hafiz

Director of Network and Resource Development

Adnan joined Islamic Relief in 2004 as a regional fundraiser in the UK. He worked in multiple roles over 10 years at Islamic Relief UK, including setting up the first digital team and leading the growth of digital fundraising and engagement. Adnan also led numerous fundraising and marketing campaigns, which played a significant part in the growth of Islamic Relief UK.

Having moved to Islamic Relief Worldwide in 2014, Adnan has held different roles that have helped grow Islamic Relief’s global digital footprint into new geographic territories, supporting Islamic Relief members with their digital and marketing growth as well as developing new products and initiatives for the Islamic Relief family.

Adnan graduated in Industrial Design and Technology from Loughborough University. He has since completed an Advanced Diploma in Business Administration from Durham University and a Diploma in Digital Marketing from the Institute of Data and Marketing.

Board of Directors
Javed Akhtar

Director of Finance

Javed Akhtar has more than a decade of experience at Islamic Relief, having worked in a similar role between 2003-2014. In that role he strove to implement wide-ranging financial and accounting processes which aided in the transparent nature in which Islamic Relief now operates.

Javed also has diverse experience across the private sector, having worked at American chemicals and pharmaceutical giant DuPont, shipping firm FedEX and technology consultancy company Accenture. In all his roles, he prioritises using the latest technologies to improve monitoring and reporting at every level. Javed’s commitment to embracing digital end-to-end technology, enhancing accountability to our stakeholders and promoting financial transparency is ensuring that we remain at the forefront of financial developments in the sector.

By training, Javed is a chartered accountant with a Master’s degree in NGO Management with Charity Accounting and Financial Management from Cass Business School.
Board of Directors
Affan Cheema  

Director of International Programmes

Affan Cheema is an experienced leader who has spent 25 years working in the international aid sector on poverty eradication in Asia, Africa and the Middle East. He has worked in fast onset emergencies, protracted crisis and development environments whilst working for Islamic Relief Worldwide and Care International. He is also a trustee of South West International Development Network (SWIDN).

Through his career Affan has held numerous roles including institutional fundraising, programme and grant management, and programme quality assurance.  Affan’s leadership has helped Islamic Relief Worldwide secure the highly coveted Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS), seen as the sector’s premier benchmark for operational excellence.

Affan completed his BA in Economics and Geography from University of London (School of Oriental and African Studies) and his MSc in Development Administration and Planning from the University of Bristol. He is PRINCE2 qualified, is a keen sportsman and recently co-edited a book entitled -Islam and International Development: Insights for working with Muslim Communities-.
Board of Directors
Dr Hossam Said

Managing Director, Humanitarian Academy for Development (HAD)

For nearly three decades Dr Hossam has provided the strategic vision to manage, lead and develop a range of international humanitarian interventions around the world.

At the start of his career, Dr Hossam served on the Board of Directors of the Egyptian Medical Syndicate, before moving to Islamic Relief Worldwide to manage the core global business activities as International Programmes Director.

During this time the organisation increased its global reach, gaining both domestic and international repute and credibility. Dr Hossam has also served on the Islamic Relief Worldwide Board of Management and Executive Committee for the past 15 years; sharing responsibility for strategic organisational development and the change management process, whilst forging strong relationships with many other charities.

Dr Hossam gained an MBA from Aston Business School in 2004 and graduated as a Medical Doctor from Cairo University in 1981.
Board of Directors
Martin Cottingham  

Director of External Relations and Advocacy

Martin Cottingham joined Islamic Relief in 2012 as IRUK Media Relations Manager, and was appointed Head of Communications in 2015 before taking up his current position as Director of External Relations and Advocacy for Islamic Relief Worldwide.

Martin has helped Islamic Relief to increase its mainstream media profile and expand its campaigning work, producing hard-hitting advocacy reports on floods in Pakistan (2011) famine in Somalia (2012) disaster risk reduction (2013) and aid to Afghanistan (2014). He has over 20 years’ experience working in media, communications and marketing roles for international development and environmental charities.

Martin graduated from the University of London with a degree in English and Drama (1982-85) then trained as a journalist with a postgraduate diploma at City University (1986-87). He has previously worked for Christian Aid as Editor of Christian Aid News and Media Relations Manager (1988-97) for Oxfam as Regional Campaigns Manager (1997-2000) and at the Soil Association as Marketing Director (2001-2006), as well as working for a wide range of organisations as a freelance writer, researcher and communications consultant.

Tufail Hussain

Director of Islamic Relief UK

Tufail Hussain has 17 years’ experience in the humanitarian and development sector, leading on marketing and fundraising campaigns for several organisations before joining Islamic Relief UK in 2016 as Deputy Director. Tufail was appointed Director of Islamic Relief UK in 2019 and in 2021 provided valuable leadership as interim CEO of Islamic Relief Worldwide.

Tufail is driven by a passion for empowering disadvantaged youth and mentors a number of young people. He also works to strengthen engagement between British Muslims and wider society. Under his leadership, Islamic Relief UK has significantly increased its income and developed successful partnerships with communities across the country. He has travelled around the world to raise awareness of major emergencies such as the Syria, Yemen and Afghanistan crises and the floods in Pakistan and Sudan.

A father to 5 daughters and a son, Tufail is also a sports enthusiast and passionate Liverpool FC supporter. Tufail has run the London Marathon twice, raising over £35,000 for humanitarian causes.

Before joining Islamic Relief he was CEO of Orphans in Need, where he oversaw a new strategy that increased income from £2 million to £9 million in 3 years and opened up new UK and international offices. Tufail is also a trustee of the Muslim Charities Forum and a Director of TIC International (Islamic Relief Worldwide’s clothes recycling and trading arm).
Waseem Ahmad

Chief Executive Officer

Waseem Ahmad joined the Islamic Relief family over 24 years ago, serving as Programme Officer in the Balochistan province of south-western Pakistan before becoming Head of Programmes in Pakistan. Waseem then moved to Oxfam and Tearfund before returning to Islamic Relief to establish our mission in Malawi. Later serving as Head of Programme Funding and Partnerships, Waseem led the response to major crises across the globe, including the East Africa drought, Pakistan earthquake and the Indian Ocean Tsunami.

Waseem then served for nearly 6 years as our Director of International Programmes, during which time the charity secured and retained the coveted Core Humanitarian Standard certification in recognition of the quality of our programming. He was appointed CEO of Islamic Relief in May 2021.

With a special interest in community mobilisation and infrastructure, Waseem received an MSc in Project Planning and Management from the University of Bradford, as well as an MSc in Economics from Arid Agriculture University in Rawalpindi, Pakistan.

Waseem has also worked for Lepra Health in Action and is a member of the International Civil Society Centre’s Board of Trustees. The father-of-3 enjoys walking and playing football, and is a keen birdwatcher.