Gaza's unemployment rate was among the world's highest, at 45.2% in late 2010, the UN has found.

联合国统计发现，加沙的失业率是世界上最高，在2010年底达到45.2%。

Real wages meanwhile fell by more than a third, the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) said.

Its report says that private businesses have been hardest hit by the continuing ban on virtually all exports.

Israel tightened¹ sanctions on Gaza in 2006 after militants² captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.

'Disturbing'

The blockade tightened again a year later when Hamas ousted³ rival Palestinian organisation⁴ Fatah from the territory.

UNRWA spokesman Chris Gunness said of the report in a statement: "These are disturbing trends and the refugees, who make up two-thirds of Gaza's 1.5 million population, were the worst hit."

The unemployment figure, for the second half of 2010, was a slight improvement on the 45.7% jobless rate during the same period in 2009.

But it was an increase from the first half of 2010, when a temporary building boom boosted jobs.

Gaza's unemployment rate was among the world's highest, at 45.2% in late 2010, the UN has found, as Israel's blockade of the territory enters its fifth year.

Real wages meanwhile fell by more than a third, the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) said.

Its report says that private businesses have been hardest hit by the continuing ban on virtually all exports.

Israel tightened sanctions on Gaza in 2006 after militants captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.