ICRC Ovens Help Gaza Families Cut Bread Costs

In the displacement centers of Gaza, communal ovens have become essential infrastructure for survival. As fuel costs soar and income dries up, displaced families are turning to these shared facilities to bake their own bread, a staple that is increasingly difficult to afford through commercial markets.

According to Al Jazeera English, these ovens, often situated within schools serving as shelters, allow residents to save on the high cost of cooking fuel. For many households, the ability to bake bread at no direct cost represents a critical lifeline in a context of severe economic strain and displacement.

Economic pressure drives reliance on shared resources

Azza Ashour, a mother of five sheltering in western Gaza City, describes the financial burden of preparing meals independently. She notes that purchasing pre-baked bread can cost approximately 15 shekels a day, a sum that is prohibitive given her lack of regular income. Her husband has been detained since May 2024, leaving her solely responsible for the household.

For Ashour, the communal oven provided by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is not merely a convenience but a necessity. It allows her to stretch limited food supplies further, often using bread as the primary meal for her children. The reduction in daily food expenditure is a significant factor in her ability to manage the family's basic needs.

Bakers find scarce income in wartime labor

The operation of these ovens also creates a limited source of employment for local residents. Randa Adwan, a former educator and mother of seven, works as a baker at the facility. She wakes early to prepare dough and manages the baking process until noon, a physically demanding role that has become a primary source of income.

Adwan earns 70 shekels a day, a wage that helps cover essential costs such as water and clothing for her family. Positions at the oven are highly sought after and are allocated through a lottery system due to the high demand for any available work. For many, this temporary employment provides a crucial margin of financial stability in an otherwise stagnant economy.

Humanitarian support sustains critical food access

The ICRC supports these communal oven programs as part of a broader effort to ensure food access for displaced populations. While organizations like the World Food Programme provide canned goods, the irregularity of these distributions means that households must frequently bridge gaps with their own resources. The ovens fill this gap by reducing the cost of the most fundamental food item.

As displacement continues and economic conditions remain volatile, the reliance on such shared resources is likely to grow. Observers will need to monitor the sustainability of these programs and the broader availability of fuel and ingredients. The capacity of humanitarian actors to maintain these low-cost food sources will be a key indicator of the resilience of displaced communities in Gaza.