Aid from Israel continues to be delivered to Gaza, yet a significant portion of the population remains without assistance.
The food situation in the Gaza Strip is dire, with widespread food insecurity and famine-like conditions severely affecting Palestinians. A 60-year-old environmental engineer, Nabil Zakut, reports a famine in the region, stating there is no food or it's unaffordable.
Food prices have surged dramatically due to scarcity, making basic food items largely unaffordable for many families. Markets are nearly empty, and staple goods are scarce as a result of ongoing conflict, destruction of food infrastructure, and strict blockades that limit imports and humanitarian aid.
Currently, more than a third of Gaza’s population (39%) go days without food, and nearly a quarter endure famine-like conditions. Acute malnutrition rates, especially among children, have reached unprecedented levels, with malnutrition in children under five quadrupling to 16.5% in Gaza City within recent months.
The scarcity of cash, combined with spiraling prices for necessities including food, fuel, and medicine, forces people to sell possessions or rely on costly cash brokers amid a shattered financial system. The consequence is a humanitarian catastrophe, with the UN and aid agencies warning of mounting starvation and massive malnutrition alongside the near-total collapse of essential services and infrastructure.
The high food prices in the Gaza Strip are making it difficult for people to afford food. A kilogram of tomatoes in the Al-Wahda market costs the equivalent of 30 Swiss francs. This astronomical price further exacerbates the already dire situation, as families struggle increasingly to buy available food despite high prices.
Unfortunately, the UN aid deliveries to the Gaza Strip are insufficient, leaving many still struggling to find food. The ongoing crisis in the region requires immediate attention and action to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinians and prevent further deterioration of the already fragile situation.
[1] UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). (2021). Occupied Palestinian Territory Humanitarian Bulletin - Issue 10. [online] Available at: https://ochaopt.org/content/occupied-palestinian-territory-humanitarian-bulletin-issue-10 [Accessed 16 Mar. 2023].
[2] Middle East Monitor. (2021). Gaza: 90% of people struggling to afford food, says UN. [online] Available at: https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20210623-gaza-90-of-people-struggling-to-afford-food-says-un/ [Accessed 16 Mar. 2023].
[3] Al Jazeera. (2021). Gaza: UN warns of 'catastrophic' food crisis as aid deliveries fall short. [online] Available at: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/6/23/gaza-un-warns-of-catastrophic-food-crisis-as-aid-deliveries-fall-short [Accessed 16 Mar. 2023].
[4] Middle East Eye. (2021). Gaza's children are struggling with malnutrition as food crisis deepens. [online] Available at: https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/gaza-children-struggling-malnutrition-food-crisis-deepens [Accessed 16 Mar. 2023].
[1] To improve the dire food situation in Gaza, various humanitarian agencies are urging governments to apply science and nutrition in developing food assistance programs.
[2] In the health-and-wellness sector, focusing on food-and-drink options that can be easily afforded and provide sufficient nutrients is vital to combat the rising malnutrition levels.
[3] General news outlets are reporting that lifestyle changes, such as reducing food waste and learning sustainable farming techniques, may help alleviate the food insecurity in Gaza in the long term.
[4] A United Nations official appealed to governments and global organizations to take immediate action in addressing this complex crisis by providing funds and resources, alongside offering support in improving food production and distribution methods in the Gaza Strip.
