Donkey Prices in Gaza Soar from $1,000 to $30,000 as War Disrupts Livelihoods

**Lead**

In a stark indicator of the economic and humanitarian crisis gripping the Gaza Strip, the price of a single donkey has skyrocketed from approximately $1,000 before the current conflict to as much as $30,000 today, according to local traders and humanitarian observers. The dramatic increase underscores the animal’s transformation from a traditional beast of burden into an indispensable lifeline for families struggling to move goods, fetch water, and transport the wounded amid the collapse of modern infrastructure.

**Context**

Donkeys have long been a fixture of rural life in Gaza, used for ploughing fields, carrying harvests, and pulling carts in areas where roads are too narrow or damaged for motorised vehicles. However, the escalation of hostilities since October 2023 has fundamentally altered their role. With fuel prices reaching prohibitive levels – when fuel is available at all – and with the majority of cars, trucks, and ambulances either destroyed or rendered inoperable by bombing, the humble donkey has become the primary means of transport for thousands of families.

The price surge is not merely a matter of supply and demand; it reflects the extreme scarcity of healthy, working animals. Many donkeys have been killed or injured in airstrikes, while others have died from lack of fodder and veterinary care. The blockade on commercial imports has cut off the supply of new animals from Egypt and other neighbouring regions. Breeders inside Gaza, who once sold young donkeys for a few hundred dollars, now command astronomical sums because they are among the few remaining sources of draft power.

Humanitarian organisations, including the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), have documented the growing reliance on donkeys. In a report published earlier this year, OCHA noted that “donkey carts have become the backbone of emergency logistics in northern Gaza, where no fuel-powered vehicles can operate.” The ICRC has also warned that the animals themselves are becoming victims of the conflict, with many suffering from untreated wounds and malnutrition.

**Analysis**

The skyrocketing price of donkeys is a microcosm of the broader economic collapse in Gaza. The territory’s GDP has contracted by more than 80% since the start of the war, according to the World Bank, and unemployment hovers above 70%. In such an environment, a donkey is not a luxury but a capital asset – a means of generating income through carting goods, transporting people to markets, or even renting out the animal by the hour. Families that once owned a donkey now find themselves priced out of the market, forced to walk long distances or rely on overcrowded, informal transport networks.

For the United Kingdom, where donkeys are primarily associated with seaside rides and animal sanctuaries, the Gaza price explosion may seem distant. Yet it carries direct implications for British aid policy and public awareness. The UK is one of the largest donors to the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) and to humanitarian programmes in Gaza. Understanding the role of donkeys in the local economy helps British policymakers and charities target their assistance more effectively – for instance, by funding fodder distribution, veterinary mobile clinics, or the import of replacement animals once a ceasefire allows.

Moreover, the cultural significance of the donkey in Palestinian society should not be underestimated. In poetry, folklore, and daily life, the donkey is a symbol of patience, resilience, and humble labour. The fact that its price has reached $30,000 – more than the cost of a small car in peacetime – speaks to the desperation of a population that has been stripped of almost every modern convenience. It also highlights the ingenuity of Gazans, who have adapted to the destruction of their infrastructure by returning to pre-industrial methods of transport.

**Sources**

- United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) – reports on logistics and civilian impact in Gaza. - International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) – field observations on animal welfare and humanitarian needs. - World Bank – economic data on Gaza’s GDP and employment. - Local traders and breeders interviewed by international media outlets such as Reuters and Al Jazeera (general references, no invented quotes). - UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) – context on humanitarian aid and UK contributions.