Mideast: Malnutrition begins to bite

"No one is buying meat these days," says Yousef Al-Jerjowi, sitting next to his butcher shop devoid of customers. "There are some people who buy frozen meat, because it's much cheaper: 20 shekels (five dollars) per kilo versus 60 shekels for fresh beef." According to the 45-year-old father of ten, while business is in general terrible, the better days are early in the month, when those with salaried jobs often receive their pay. "On average, I might make 200 shekels a day in the first five days of the new month. Before the siege, it was 450 shekels a day. I do have some more regular customers. But they have no money. They keep a tab, and pay when they can." Like many Palestinians, Jerjowi used to work in Israel. "When Israel closed the borders, I had no work. So I opened a butcher shop." On a normal day, Jerjowi says he only earns at best 100 shekels, not enough to cover the rent of his shop - 4,000 dollars a year - nor that of his family's homes. "My three sons are all married. Together, our house rents are 200 shekels per month. We're not earning that money. And there are daily expenses, like electricity and water." With unemployment rates at 50 percent in Gaza, and 80 percent of Gazan Palestinians dependent on food aid hand-outs, it's no wonder that Jerjowi's business isn't booming. But the problem lies not only with Gaza's siege-shattered economy and the great poverty this has created; it is also the scarcity of beef.