Kathmandu— Amidst the ongoing conflict and severe shortages in Gaza, an everyday item – the simple lighter – has become a crucial necessity for survival. Mothers struggle to find working lighters to cook meals, bake bread, and heat water for their children, while displaced families share the few available ones amongst entire camps. The scarcity of cooking gas and fuel, compounded by restrictions on goods entering Gaza, has transformed this once-cheap commodity into a valuable resource, prompting a new wave of lighter repair as residents attempt to cope with the crisis.

Dependence on Fire for Basic Needs

Rabab Deifallah, a mother of five living in a tent, carefully guards her battered lighter, having it repaired multiple times since Israel’s war began in October 2023. Firewood has become essential for cooking and heating, but obtaining a spark to ignite it is increasingly difficult. “Our whole daily life depends on fire,” Rabab told Al Jazeera. “But getting a fire started begins with a lighter and this small object has become one of the hardest things to find in Gaza.” Before the war, lighters cost mere pennies; now, a new one can run $27-$33, while repairs cost around $12 – money families often struggle to afford.

From Tailoring to Repair: A New Profession Emerges

The lighter shortage has not only created hardship but also spurred unexpected economic adaptations. Hasnaa Mansour, displaced from Jabalia refugee camp and formerly reliant on her husband’s tailoring income, now bakes and sells food to support her six children. She too struggles to find a working lighter for her clay oven, often relying on neighbors for a spark. Similarly, Tamer Al-Shawish, a former driver, has turned to repairing lighters as a means of providing for his family. “Before the war, no one needed to repair a lighter,” he explained. “They were cheap and available.” He now salvages parts from broken lighters to extend their lifespan.

Restrictions Fuel Shortages

The scarcity of lighters is directly linked to Israel’s ongoing siege on Gaza. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that restrictions on goods movement and crossing closures contribute to shortages and rising prices. Items classified as “dual-use” by Israeli authorities face additional hurdles for entry, further exacerbating the problem. According to the Gaza Chamber of Commerce and Industry, only around 191 trucks carrying goods entered Gaza daily during the first five months of 2026 – far below pre-war levels. The chamber documented the emergence of lighter repair as a direct result of these restrictions, noting that lighters are among the items prevented from entering the territory.

As conditions in Gaza remain dire, even seemingly insignificant items like lighters have become essential for daily survival and have spurred innovative responses to overcome hardship.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.