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Both the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and the World Food Programme (WFP) have reported a critical shortage of food supplies in Gaza, with existing stockpiles now depleted. Meanwhile, essential assistance is accumulating at border crossings, unable to be delivered.
Humanitarian agencies have expressed grave concerns regarding the escalating hunger crisis in the region. This is exacerbated by blockades, accessibility challenges, ongoing military operations, and increased incidents of looting.
Scarcity, Sharing, and Shame
In a poignant account, a woman known as Um Muhammad, who is currently residing in a shelter in Gaza City, described her daily struggle to feed her family of 11. While she still has some flour, many of her neighbors have completely run out.
“As I knead and bake, I feel deeply ashamed,” she shared, adding that she often hands out some of her bread to children who come asking for food.
“We manage with just one meal a day, splitting the bread among ourselves. Our diet consists mainly of canned goods, lentils, and rice. Once our supplies are gone, I am uncertain what we will do, as market stock is severely limited.”
Longest Blockade
With a population exceeding two million, Gaza heavily relies on humanitarian aid. Since March 2, however, the region has faced a total blockade, halting all humanitarian and commercial supplies. This blockade is the most prolonged since the outbreak of hostilities in October 2023, triggered by brutal terrorist attacks from Hamas against Israel.
This situation has precipitated significant shortages—not only of food but also of essential items like medical supplies, shelter materials, and safe drinking water. The WFP noted a staggering 1,400 percent surge in food prices compared to the ceasefire period earlier this year, from January 19 to March 18.
Malnutrition and Looting
Recently, UN agencies delivered their last remaining food supplies to kitchens providing hot meals, which have been vital for many families. However, these kitchens are expected to run out of food in the coming days, and 16 others closed over the weekend. Additionally, all 25 bakeries supported by the WFP have ceased operations.
Incidents of looting are reportedly on the rise, with the UN’s humanitarian affairs office (OCHA) highlighting gunmen ransacking a delivery truck in Deir Al-Balah and a warehouse in Gaza City over the weekend.
The latest famine review conducted by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) has begun, as humanitarian partners sound the alarm over deteriorating nutrition in the region. Since January, approximately 10,000 cases of acute malnutrition in children have been identified, with 1,600 classified as severe acute malnutrition.
Although some treatment supplies are available in the southern part of Gaza, accessing these resources remains incredibly difficult due to ongoing operational and security barriers.
Healthcare Also Affected
OCHA has emphasized that the critical shortages in Gaza extend well beyond food supplies. Medical resources, particularly those needed for trauma care, are depleting at a time when the number of injuries from mass casualty events is rising.
Gaza faces significant shortages of surgical supplies, such as gowns, drapes, and gloves. The World Health Organization (WHO) has indicated that their warehouse is out of therapeutic milk, intravenous antibiotics, and pain relief medications, along with necessary parts for ambulances and oxygen equipment.
Efforts to provide medical care are further hampered as an increasing number of critical healthcare workers, including specialized surgeons, are being denied entry into Gaza, limiting emergency response capabilities.
Aid Awaiting Entry
As the restrictions on aid continue, humanitarian organizations are trying to deliver what supplies they can. They also have crucial stocks of food and other essential items poised to enter Gaza once the border crossings are reopened.
This includes nearly 3,000 UNRWA trucks filled with aid, while the WFP has over 116,000 metric tons of food assistance available, sufficient to sustain one million individuals for a duration of up to four months.
Source
news.un.org