In Gaza, the simple lighter has become a crucial lifeline for families struggling to cook meals amidst severe shortages. For many, such as Rabab Deifallah, a mother of five, finding a working lighter means the difference between a warm meal and going to bed hungry. The soaring prices and scarcity of lighters have forced families to share and repair their existing ones, often prioritising food over the cost of a new lighter, which can reach up to $33.
As the conflict continues, the UN highlights that restrictions on goods entering Gaza exacerbate these challenges. With limited access to cooking gas, families are increasingly reliant on wood fires, making the lighter an essential tool. The situation is dire; mothers like Hasnaa Mansour often have to send their children to neighbours to borrow a spark just to cook.
The lighter’s significance has transformed, now viewed as a vital asset rather than a mere convenience. Families often go without meals, waiting for a chance to borrow fire from others. The emergence of lighter-repair services illustrates the lengths people are going to maintain this basic necessity in their lives.
In a region where daily routines are disrupted, the lighter embodies resilience and survival. As Shadi Abu Shamlah notes, having a lighter means life continues; without it, families face the grim reality of cold meals and hunger.
Source: Al Jazeera
