Humanitarian DISASTER – They’ve RUN OUT!

The World Food Programme has exhausted all food supplies in Gaza, placing 2.1 million Palestinians at risk of starvation as the Israeli blockade enters its seventh week.

At a Glance

  • All WFP food stocks in Gaza have been depleted after seven weeks of Israeli blockade on humanitarian aid
  • 25 WFP-supported bakeries have closed due to lack of wheat flour and cooking fuel
  • Child malnutrition cases are rising dramatically, with food prices increasing up to 1,400%
  • Israel claims there is no shortage and accuses Hamas of hijacking supplies
  • Over 116,000 tonnes of food assistance await delivery pending border reopening

Humanitarian Crisis Reaches Breaking Point

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) announced this week that it has completely run out of food supplies in Gaza, marking what officials describe as a critical moment in the ongoing humanitarian crisis. The depletion comes after seven weeks of severe restrictions on aid entering the territory following Israel’s closure of border crossings on March 2.

The last remaining food stocks have been delivered to communal kitchens, which are expected to exhaust their supplies within days, leaving over two million Palestinians without access to essential nutrition assistance.

All 25 WFP-supported bakeries throughout Gaza have ceased operations due to critical shortages of wheat flour and cooking fuel. Family food parcels, a lifeline for the most vulnerable households, have been completely exhausted. 

The situation has deteriorated rapidly since Israel resumed its military offensive following the collapse of ceasefire negotiations, with the stated aim of pressuring Hamas to release hostages taken during the October 7, 2023 attack.

Severe Health and Economic Impact

Health officials report an alarming rise in malnutrition cases, particularly among children and other vulnerable groups. The UN Office for the Co-Ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has documented severe shortages extending beyond food to include medicine, medical supplies, and fuel necessary for hospital operations and water distribution systems. These shortages have created a cascading humanitarian emergency affecting virtually every aspect of civilian life in Gaza. 

“This aid blockade must end. Lives depend on it,” said World Health Organization (WHO) director-general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, describing the situation as “an awful and grim moment.”

The economic impact has been devastating, with food prices skyrocketing by up to 1,400% in local markets. Residents have resorted to desperate measures including bartering personal possessions, selling family assets, and begging for food to survive. The WFP reports that over 400,000 people have been displaced since March 18 alone, adding to the more than 80% of Gaza’s population already displaced during the conflict. 

International Response and Political Standoff

The international community has responded with increasing alarm to the deteriorating conditions. Foreign ministers from France, Germany, and the United Kingdom have jointly urged Israel to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza. Meanwhile, twelve major aid organizations released a statement warning that “famine is not just a risk, but likely rapidly unfolding in almost all parts of Gaza,” and pleaded for access to do their jobs. 

“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 unravelled,” the WFP stated in its assessment of the crisis.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry has rejected international criticism of the blockade, maintaining there is no shortage of aid and accusing Hamas of hijacking supplies intended for civilians. Hamas denies these allegations and has rejected an Israeli ceasefire proposal, demanding a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza in exchange for the release of hostages. Over 116,000 tonnes of food assistance remain positioned at entry points, ready for delivery once Gaza’s borders reopen. 

Debate Over Legal Obligations

The United Nations maintains that Israel is obligated under international humanitarian law to ensure adequate supplies for Gaza’s 2.1 million Palestinians as the occupying power. The UN human rights office has accused Israel of “complete disregard for the lives of civilians in Gaza,” citing high civilian casualties over 18 months of conflict without apparent changes in targeting practices. Reports of attacks on residential buildings, shelters, and critical humanitarian infrastructure have raised questions about compliance with international law.

“Extremely high civilian casualties over 18 months do not appear to have prompted any changes in Israeli targeting practices and policies, a pattern indicating at the very least a complete disregard for the lives of civilians in Gaza,” stated the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

As social unrest increases due to food scarcity, with reports emerging of disputes involving firearms, humanitarian agencies continue to advocate for immediate access to Gaza. The WFP has urged “all parties to prioritize the needs of civilians and allow aid to enter Gaza immediately and uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law.”

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