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In the current humanitarian crisis in Gaza, community kitchens are operating as a lifeline, providing approximately one million meals each day to those in need. One such kitchen, located in Jabalia, has become a vital resource for the local population.
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has reported that it has completely exhausted its food supplies in Gaza, where humanitarian aid has been severely restricted for over seven weeks. The WFP announced, “Today, WFP delivered its last remaining food stocks to hot meals kitchens,” and warned that these facilities are likely to run out of food imminently.
The humanitarian situation deteriorated further after Israel initiated a blockade on March 2nd, which was followed by military operations resuming two weeks later after a ceasefire fell apart. The Israeli government has stated that these measures are essential for pressuring Hamas to release hostages.
According to the UN, Israel is obligated under international law to ensure the provision of aid to the 2.1 million Palestinians living in Gaza. However, Israeli authorities argue that they are meeting their legal obligations and assert that there is no prevailing shortage of aid.
As the end of March approached, all 25 bakeries supported by the WFP in Gaza were forced to shut down due to a lack of wheat flour and cooking fuel. Additional food rations provided to families have also been depleted, exacerbating the crisis.
The UN has indicated a significant increase in malnutrition rates, particularly among children. A recent screening conducted by humanitarian partners revealed a doubling of cases of acute malnutrition among children in northern Gaza compared to previous weeks.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has highlighted severe shortages in medical supplies and equipment necessary for overwhelmed hospitals, and ongoing fuel shortages are hindering both water production and distribution.
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), referred to the situation in Gaza as having reached “an awful and grim moment,” urging an end to the aid blockade, stating that lives depend on the immediate resumption of aid.
The WFP has indicated that the current blockade represents the longest closure of Gaza it has ever faced, worsening already fragile food systems and market conditions. Food prices have surged by as much as 1,400% compared to levels seen during the temporary ceasefire, raising urgent concerns about nutrition for vulnerable groups such as young children, pregnant and breastfeeding women, and the elderly.
In a stark warning, the WFP stated, “The situation inside the Gaza Strip has once again reached a breaking point: people are running out of ways to cope, and the fragile gains made during the short ceasefire have unraveled.” Without immediate action to facilitate the flow of aid and trade, the agency may have to cease its operations entirely.
WFP is calling on all parties involved to prioritise the needs of civilians and allow for immediate access for humanitarian aid into Gaza, in accordance with international humanitarian laws.
The agency has also indicated that over 116,000 tonnes of food assistance are ready at aid corridors, enabling it to feed a million people for up to four months, contingent upon the reopening of Gaza’s border crossings by Israeli authorities.
WFP Country Director Antoine Renard emphasized the dire circumstances, noting that over 80% of the population has been displaced since the war began. He pointed out the critical role these hot meal kitchens play in providing essential sustenance, especially as new waves of displacement have emerged since the resumption of hostilities on March 18.
However, even when adequately supplied, these kitchens are only able to serve about half of the population, addressing only 25% of daily food needs.
According to Gavin Kelleher, a humanitarian access manager with the Norwegian Refugee Council, once the kitchens run out of supplies, they will no longer be able to provide any assistance. He described the desperate measures people are taking to survive, such as bartering for food or selling possessions, highlighting a growing trend of begging that has become increasingly widespread.
Kelleher characterized the situation in Gaza as one of extreme desperation, with people unable to support those in need anymore.
Earlier in the week, the Israeli foreign ministry rejected criticism from the UK, France, and Germany regarding the blockade. The ministry claimed that over 25,000 trucks carrying close to 450,000 tonnes of aid entered Gaza during the ceasefire and asserted that the situation on the ground is under control, denying any shortage of aid.
Additionally, Israel contends that it is not obligated to facilitate aid delivery, as it accuses Hamas of misusing supplies to bolster its military capabilities. Hamas has refuted these allegations, and the UN has remarked on its effective management of aid distribution.
Last week, Hamas dismissed an Israeli proposal for a new ceasefire that was contingent upon the disarmament of its forces. The group reiterated that it would only consider the release of hostages in exchange for an end to the conflict and a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces.
The military campaign initiated by Israel was in direct response to an unprecedented attack on October 7, 2023, which resulted in significant casualties, including around 1,200 fatalities and 251 hostages. The Gaza health ministry, controlled by Hamas, has reported that at least 51,439 individuals have lost their lives since the beginning of the current conflict.
Source
www.bbc.com