Back-to-school supplies in Gaza: high prices and limited purchasing power

As the school year begins in Gaza, Palestinian families face difficulties securing school supplies due to high prices and weak purchasing power amid high unemployment and significant inflation. Families buy only the bare minimum, while traders suffer from a shortage of goods and declining demand.

With the return of the school year to the Gaza Strip, Palestinian families face new economic burdens in securing school supplies for their children. High prices and weak purchasing power limit families' ability to buy, amid high unemployment rates reaching 85.5% among youth during 2025, and inflation averaging 187% in July 2026. According to a World Food Programme survey, 77% of families faced difficulty accessing markets due to liquidity shortages and high prices of basic goods. In the Nuseirat market, signs of preparation for the school year are limited, with fewer goods and weaker purchasing activity. Families try to balance their children's school needs with basic living requirements. UNICEF data indicates that about 700,000 children have been deprived of formal in-person education for nearly three consecutive school years, and about 98% of school buildings have been damaged. About 435,000 children benefit from temporary learning spaces, while 420,000 children remain without in-person learning. Traders face challenges related to weak purchasing power, high prices, and a shortage of goods due to the occupation's ban on their supply. Shoe prices range between 50 and 150 shekels, while local factories have stopped producing school uniforms.