Palestinian workers collect wood to be burned and turned into coal at one of the few local charcoal manufacturing shops, east of Gaza City, Feb. 25, 2013.
In adapting to years of border blockades and shortages, Gazans have become experts at recycling and making new out of old including turning scrap wood into charcoal to be used for barbecue grills and water pipes in local restaurants and coffee houses.
Credit: Hatem Moussa/AP
Palestinian worker Hamuda Mahdi, who oversees production of coal at night, poses for a photograph at one of the few local charcoal manufacturing shops, east of Gaza City, March 27, 2013.
Wood is not in ample supply in the sandy coastal strip where a rapidly growing population, now at 1.7 million, is steadily gobbling up the remaining open spaces.
Credit: Hatem Moussa/AP
A Palestinian worker is seen from a shack as he inspects piles of coal at one of the few local charcoal manufacturing shops, east of Gaza City, March 2, 2013.
The charcoal production first began in 2004, using trees the Israeli military had cut down in rural areas to deprive Gaza rocket squads of cover when they fired their projectiles toward Israel.
Credit: Hatem Moussa/AP
Palestinian workers remove coal from a pile at one of the few local charcoal manufacturing shops east of Gaza City, March. 24, 2013.
When Israel and Egypt imposed a tight closure on the territory in 2007 in response to the takeover by the Islamic militant Hamas, the charcoal-makers used scrap wood brought into Gaza from Egypt through smuggling tunnels. Since then, both Israel and Egypt have eased the closures, and some of the wood needed for charcoal-making is even imported legally.
Credit: Hatem Moussa/AP
A Palestinian worker fills bags with coal to be sold, in Jabalya refugee camp in the north of the Gaza Strip, March 24, 2013.
Citrus trees work best for charcoal, but are very expensive. Old olive trees and other types are used instead.
Credit: Hatem Moussa/AP
A Palestinian worker places embers on wood to be burned and turned into coal at one of the few local charcoal manufacturing shops east of Gaza City, Feb. 25, 2013.
Wood sticks are sorted, arranged in a pyramid shape, buried in the sand and allowed to smolder for days. Workers regularly moisten the wood to slow down the burning.
Credit: Hatem Moussa/AP
A Palestinian works at one of the few local charcoal manufacturing shops, east of Gaza City, March 2, 2013.
Credit: Hatem Moussa/AP
Palestinian workers sort coal to be sacked and sold, in the Jabalya refugee camp in the north of Gaza Strip, March 24, 2013.
Credit: Hatem Moussa/AP
A Palestinian worker covers the holes of smoke coming from a pile of smoldering wood during the process of turning wood into coal at one of the few local charcoal manufacturing shops, east of Gaza City, March 2, 2013.
Credit: Hatem Moussa/AP
Palestinian workers carry hay to cover a fire in a pile of wood in the process of turning wood into coal at one of the few local charcoal manufacturing that exist in Gaza City, Feb. 25, 2013.
