In Wartime Gaza, Death Comes Slowly
In the midst of the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, the people of Gaza are facing not only the immediate threat of death from bombings, but also the slow agony of starvation. Palestinian authorities report that over 20,000 people have died in the Gaza Strip since the beginning of the conflict, with a third of them being children. While most of these deaths are a result of Israeli bombardment, hunger has become an increasingly prevalent issue.
The Alarming Rise of Acute Food Insecurity
The United Nations and other agencies have recently raised the alarm over the “acute food insecurity” in Gaza. According to a report released on December 21, one in every four households in the blockaded enclave is now facing extreme hunger. Mustafa Shandojli, a Palestinian father, described the dire situation his family faces, stating that they had to cook livestock feed because that’s all they could find. The struggle to find food is becoming the primary concern for many people seeking refuge from the bombings.
Highest Levels of Hunger Ever Recorded
According to U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres, four out of five of the world’s hungriest people are currently in Gaza. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification system warns that by the first week of February, the entire population of Gaza could be facing “crisis or worse” levels of hunger, which is an unprecedented designation. This hunger crisis is compounded by the displacement of about 80% of Gaza’s inhabitants, who were forced to leave their homes with few possessions and provisions.
A Desperate Struggle for Survival
The situation in Gaza is dire, with people resorting to selling single onions or tomatoes, or even fasting like it’s Ramadan, even though it isn’t, because there is only enough food for one meal a day. Hunger is just one aspect of the suffering in Gaza, as disease, lack of shelter, overcrowding, and contaminated drinking water add to the misery. The rainy season has worsened conditions, with flooding in tent camps where many people live.
A Call for Urgent Humanitarian Assistance
The United Nations Security Council passed a resolution last week urging for “unhindered” delivery of humanitarian assistance to Gaza. The United States abstained from voting, marking a significant shift from previous resolutions where they vetoed any call for a pause in the fighting. The resolution led to the appointment of Dutch politician Sigrid Kaag to lead the relief effort. However, there are still challenges in getting crucial supplies through Gaza’s borders due to Israeli inspection procedures and allegations of aid diversion by Hamas.
A Life of Desperation
The people of Gaza have resorted to desperate measures to survive, with some videos circulating showing people surrounding aid convoys, grabbing supplies, and consuming food on the spot. Others rely on the charity of those who are also hungry, sharing whatever meager resources they have. With no end in sight to the war and with hunger becoming increasingly prevalent, the people of Gaza are living in unimaginable conditions.