Gaza Unemployment at 45% After Five Years of Blockade

After five years of the Israeli blockade, Gaza's unemployment rate is at 45 per cent, said a report by a UN refugee agency released on Tuesday.

The report was prepared by the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in April 2011 and deals with economic growth during 2010.

The report said unemployment increased from 42 per cent in the first half of 2010 to 45 per cent in the second half, putting Gaza's unemployment rate in the bottom 10 of 200 countries rated by the CIA World Factbook.

Unemployment was greatest among refugees, who make up two thirds of Gaza's 1.5-million people.

More jobs were created in the public sector during 2010, while all private sectors except construction and transportation lost jobs, said the report.

Source : AhlulBayt News Agency