Uber’s delivery service pays for every pickup and drop-off as well as a per-mile rate, along with any tips given by customers. In some cities, drivers also get a per-minute rate. This means that refusing to take an order has a direct impact on earnings.

The driver for Deliveroo added that he has not received any safety guidelines or advice from the company with regards to ongoing missile and drone strikes.

Essential Work

Delivery apps also bring groceries, medicine and other supplies to people staying inside. Careem noted a surge in demand for pantry staples including water, rice, pasta, and fresh produce.

According to the UN’s International Labour Organization (ILO), delivery drivers are essential workers, playing a crucial role in ensuring that residents have access to food, medicine, and daily necessities, especially during times of crisis.

This shift happened during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, as social distancing and quarantines made ecommerce indispensable, and transport drivers were deemed essential workers. During the pandemic, countries created lists of services that were needed so it could continue operating.

“Most countries included activities safeguarding access to food, water, electricity, sanitation and healthcare, and ensuring public order,” the ILO wrote. “The provision of such goods and services, however, implied that other activities came into the fold given their involvement in such provision.” That includes drivers for delivery apps.

While the term “essential worker” was popularized during the 2020 pandemic, the concept has existed for centuries: As the plague spread through Europe, certain jobs, like digging graves, were considered essential. During the Spanish Flu, rice farming was prioritized to avoid famine.

In modern society, “essential” takes on a new meaning. Keeping these services running is part of what helps maintain normalcy and avoid panic buying or empty shelves—though it comes with risks borne mostly by migrant workers.

Additional reporting by Dana Alomar.

This story originally appeared in WIRED Middle East.