By RIA Novosti,
Gaza : With gasoline supplies running out in the Gaza Strip as Israel’s blockade continues, resourceful locals have adapted car and motorbike engines to run on natural gas, kerosene and even sesame oil.
Gasoline supplies from Israel into Gaza were completely stopped on 18 March as part of sanctions imposed on the crowded Palestinian enclave over rocket attacks from militant Islamist group Hamas, which controls the strip.
Abu Alia, a car repair center owner, said: “This is not a new idea – lots of countries use natural gas as fuel. But our achievement is that in place of a fuel tank we are using an ordinary household gas canister without any kinds of special equipment.”
When asked how safe the novel method was, he did not offer an opinion.
Some drivers have managed to make their vehicles run on a 70-30% mixture of kerosene and sesame oil on the streets of Gaza, which are now almost traffic free.
Israel has resumed diesel supplies to Gaza’s only power plant, but no diesel for vehicles has been delivered since April 2.
Ahmed, a shop owner, said: “I bought a diesel generator as an enforced alternative. Now I have to find an alternative for an alternative.”
Owners of filling stations in the Gaza Strip agreed last Thursday to provide a UN relief mission with their reserve fuel stocks to enable it to distribute food aid in the enclave.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) earlier said food assistance to 650,000 Palestinians would be stopped due to a shortage of gasoline.