During Israel’s almost eight-week blockade, the World Food Programme’s food resources in the Gaza Strip have run out, putting an end to a vital source of food for hundreds of thousands of Palestinians. The WFP announced that it had distributed its last shares to Gaza’s donation kitchens, whose supplies are anticipated to run out in a few days.
About 80 % of Gaza’s population, or 2 million, depends largely on charity kitchens for food, as other sources of income have stopped operations under Israel’s siege, according to the UN. According to Abeer Etefa, a spokesperson for the World Food Programme, they have been supporting 47 restaurants, providing 644, 000 hot meals every day.
Following the closure of WFP-supported features, it is unclear how the remaining restaurants in Gaza will operate. Etefa did point out that the main food distribution centers in Gaza are the WFP-supported ovens.
On March 2, Israel resumed assault and earth operations a week later, obstructing a two-month peace with Hamas. It also halted the entrance of food, gas, medication, and other supplies to Gaza.
Israel asserts that these actions are intended to free the captives who are still being held hostage. The blockade has been deemed a” famine tactic” and a possible war crime by rights organizations.
Many food products have vanished from industry as a result of supply chains being cut, including meats, eggs, fruit, dairy products, and veggies. Due to price inflation, some people can’t afford the remaining items, making families rely primarily on canned goods.
Hunger prices have increased tremendously. 3, 700 babies in March were reportedly suffering from serious malnutrition, which is an 80 % increase from February. Around 22, 000 children received nutritional supplements in March, which is a 70 % decrease from February.
The majority of bakeries have stopped operating, and WFP has stopped standard food supply because of short-lived supplies. According to product shortages, charity kitchens now only serve fundamental pasta or rice dishes.
World Central Kitchen, a well-known US donation working independently of WFP, reported on Thursday that their ovens lack molecules, which results in sauces made from canned materials. They run Gaza’s only functioning bakery, which produces 87, 000 flatbread loaves everyday and use wooden pallets for gas.
WFP confirms that it is prepared to bring 116, 000 tonnes of food into Gaza, which will allow 1 million people to live there for four weeks, pending Israeli border exposure.
In its plan to put an end to Hamas following the October 7, 2023, assault on southwestern Israel, Israel’s air and ground businesses have severely damaged Gaza. The Israeli side of the October 7 violent attack left roughly 1,200 fatalities, but Gaza’s health ministry reports more than 51, 000 Israeli deaths, primarily among women and children, among others.
In the 2023 harm, Hamas carried out 251 kidnappings. 59 captives are still being held hostage despite the release-negotiated ceasefire.
