Gaza developers launch ride‑share and lost‑and‑found apps to ease war‑driven transport and displacement

In Gaza City’s Taqat Gaza co‑working space, about 250 freelancers and programmers work amid frequent power cuts and internet outages. The war has driven up transport costs and scattered families, creating daily challenges that residents try to solve with technology. Young developers see mobile apps as a low‑cost way to address those gaps.

Saja al‑Ghoul’s ride‑share app Waselni lets users propose a trip, invite others heading the same route, and split the fare. The app also includes a prepaid electronic wallet to bypass the cash shortage that has worsened since the conflict began. Bahaa al‑Mallahi’s lost‑and‑found platform Rajja’li enables anyone who finds an item to post a photo and description; anyone who loses something can search the database. A planned extension would push instant alerts with a missing child’s photo and location to nearby users when a child disappears during displacement. Both apps rely on smartphones that many residents still own, but developers note that paid AI tools and monthly co‑working fees—often hundreds of shekels—raise the cost of building and maintaining the software.

Waselni could reduce individual travel expenses by pooling riders, directly addressing the spike in fuel and taxi prices. Rajja’li offers a systematic alternative to the chaotic social‑media posts that currently dominate missing‑item searches, potentially speeding reunifications for families and protecting vulnerable children. If adoption grows, the platforms may lessen economic strain and improve safety in a setting where formal services are fragmented. Developers stress that success depends on user uptake and support from local authorities to verify drivers and validate lost‑item claims. Continued access to reliable electricity and internet will also determine whether the apps can scale beyond the Taqat Gaza hub.

Monitor whether Waselni and Rajja’li achieve critical mass in Gaza’s neighborhoods and whether upcoming aid programs incorporate these tools into broader relief efforts.