Occupied Jerusalem, ALRAY - Oxfam International has warned that wheat flour stocks in the Occupied Palestinian Territory could be exhausted within three weeks because of the Ukraine crisis.

In a statement on Monday, Oxfam pointed out that the cost of this food staple has surged by nearly 25% due to the Ukraine crisis.

The Palestinian Authority (PA) has to import 95% of its wheat but it owns no food storage infrastructure so is forced to rely instead on the Palestinian private sector and Israel’s facilities. Israel in turn imports half of its grain and cereals from Ukraine, according to Oxfam.

“Palestinian households are being hit hard by rising global food prices, and many are struggling to meet their basic needs,” said Shane Stevenson, Oxfam Country Director in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel.

Stevenson added the reliance on imports and the constraints forced upon the Palestinian households by Israel’s continuing military occupation, settler violence and land grabs are compounding the food crisis.

Based on indications given by the World Food Program, Oxfam said that the Ukraine crisis has increased food prices in the Occupied Palestinian Territory such as wheat flour (up by 23.6%), corn oil (26.3%) lentils (17.6%) and table salt (30%).

All these indications have led to decimating the Palestinians’ purchasing power, the humanitarian organization indicated.