Even two weeks after the Israel-Hamas ceasefire came into effect, the people of Gaza continue to suffer a severe food shortage. The World Health Organization (WHO) has described the humanitarian situation in the enclave as “catastrophic.”
The United Nations has identified the Israeli blockade along Gaza’s borders and the obstruction of international aid agencies from entering the territory as the main causes of the crisis.
According to an Al Jazeera report, volunteers from various aid agencies last Thursday raised concerns over the worsening food scarcity and urged Israel to allow humanitarian assistance into Gaza without obstruction. They warned that the limited supplies entering the enclave are insufficient to meet even the minimum nutritional needs of the population.
The UN World Food Programme (WFP) said that although the target is to deliver an average of 2,000 tonnes of food daily, only 750 metric tonnes are reaching Gaza. The delay is being caused by Israel keeping just two border crossings open – Karem Abu Salem in the south and Al-Karara in central Gaza and subjecting aid trucks to strict security checks.
On Thursday, 41 aid organizations, including Oxfam and the Norwegian Refugee Council, accused Israel in an open letter of blocking aid shipments “at will.” They claimed that between 10 October, when the ceasefire began, and 21 October, Israel rejected at least 99 aid requests from international agencies and six requests from various UN bodies.
The blocked shipments include tents, blankets, mattresses, food and nutrition supplies, medical and hygiene products, sanitation materials, assistance for people with disabilities, and children’s clothing. Under the ceasefire agreement, these essential items were supposed to enter Gaza freely.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, “The situation in Gaza remains catastrophic. The humanitarian aid reaching the population is insufficient and cannot even meet minimum needs. Lack of adequate food is making the plight of Gazans increasingly dire by the day.”
Meanwhile, the UN warned on Wednesday that at least one-quarter of Gaza’s population is facing hunger and malnutrition, including more than 11,500 pregnant women. If malnutrition affects unborn children, the famine could have “intergenerational” consequences.
Deputy Executive Director of the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), Andrew Saberton noted that currently, 70% of newborns in Gaza are premature, with almost all weighing significantly below the healthy range at birth- a sharp rise from 20% before the war. He said, “The effects of this malnutrition will have long-term impacts not only on mothers but also on newborns, creating lifelong health challenges.”
In August, the UN declared famine in Gaza City and surrounding areas. According to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), over five million people in Gaza are facing “catastrophic famine.”
Bahaa Zakout, director of foreign relations at Palestinian NGO PARC, said, “Even two weeks after the ceasefire, the situation in Gaza remains dire. While some commercial trucks are allowed to deliver biscuits, chocolates, and soda, essential nutritious foods such as grains and fruits are still blocked. Tragically, these are insufficient to meet the minimum nutritional needs of vulnerable groups, including children and pregnant women.”
Locally grown fruits and vegetables are now beyond the reach of ordinary citizens. Some residents are even forced to barter aid items to access other essentials amid the ongoing humanitarian crisis.
