Videocrux - Drug makes dangerous inroads in Gaza

#Videocrux - Drug makes dangerous inroads in Gaza Drug makes dangerous inroads in Gaza
For more than two years the Gaza Strip has suffered a penury of all essentials goods due to the ongoing Israeli blockade. But some things do manage to make it into the enclave -- including drugs. Increasing numbers of young Gazans, overcome by the misery and monotony of their situation, are seeking refuge in oblivion.
Young Gazans getting addicted to Tramadol
Thousands of young men in Gaza are becoming addicted to a prescription painkiller used to alleviate the stress of living in the besieged Palestinian territory. Students, labourers and even professionals are buying large quantities of tramadol, a synthetic opioid painkiller similar to morphine, although milder, on the black market. There are no exact figures, but one researcher estimates that up to 30% of males between 14 and 30 use it regularly, and that as many as 15,000 are addicted.
Hamas trying to crack down dealers
while Hamas has used its superior force to disarm rival militias and control arms smuggling through the massive network of tunnels to Egypt in the south, it has been unable to stop the booming illicit trade in Tramadol. The drug is so widely available that one tablet costs as little as one shekel (17p), much cheaper than via the internet.
Tough conditions making people used to drug.
Unemployment, the Israeli blockade, and poverty: it all adds to a sense of hopelessness for many here. In Gaza where electricity, water or sewage services are often cut for up to 16 hours a day and where unemployment stands at 50%, thousands of men spend the day chatting in the streets or cafes, unable to help their families. Even those lucky enough to still have a job feel the pressure, as each breadwinner supports an average of seven people on a salary of about 58 shekels a day, according to the UN.
Hamas unable to control the circulation of drug
Tramadol gets into Gaza through the network of contraband tunnels linking the territory with Egypt. It's a labyrinth which sprang up in response to Israel's blockade, but even Hamas is not able to control it. The dealers, if not their customers, look set for a bright future

Flash player