As food aid distribution stalls in Gaza due to an Israeli blockade, the United Nations has voiced urgent concerns over soaring food prices and depleting supplies, which could leave many families without essential support.
Gaza Faces Dire Food Crisis as Aid Blockade Continues
Gaza Faces Dire Food Crisis as Aid Blockade Continues
Israel's recent halt of humanitarian aid to Gaza has led to skyrocketing food prices and an impending crisis, warns UN agency.
In response to allegations of Hamas stealing aid, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu halted the entry of aid into Gaza over the weekend. The UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported alarming price increases, with costs of staples like flour and vegetables more than doubling. Community kitchens, crucial for feeding those in need, are predicted to run out of stock shortly, facing the threat of drastically reduced meals and food rations.
A surge of aid trucks had been delivering essentials during a previous ceasefire, but as tensions escalated after its expiration, Gaza’s residents now face worsening conditions. Witness accounts reveal prices for basic goods have skyrocketed, significantly impacting families' ability to purchase even necessary food items.
Local merchant Mahmoud Abu Mohsen highlighted that suppliers raised prices following Netanyahu’s announcement, fueling public resentment. Meanwhile, Doctors Without Borders criticized the Israeli blockade as inhumane, stressing the devastating impact on Gaza’s population. Qatar and Egypt condemned the move, labeling it a violation of humanitarian laws.
The UN reported that before this crisis, approximately half of Gazans were dependent on food assistance. As the situation deteriorates, NGOs struggling with limited reserves express their fears of an impending health catastrophe amidst ongoing violence.
This blockade comes on the heels of a prolonged conflict that has claimed a staggering number of lives, intensifying the need for humanitarian aid in the besieged region.
With the blockade in place, Gazans fear that the conditions will only worsen, highlighting the fragile state of humanitarian needs in the region.
A surge of aid trucks had been delivering essentials during a previous ceasefire, but as tensions escalated after its expiration, Gaza’s residents now face worsening conditions. Witness accounts reveal prices for basic goods have skyrocketed, significantly impacting families' ability to purchase even necessary food items.
Local merchant Mahmoud Abu Mohsen highlighted that suppliers raised prices following Netanyahu’s announcement, fueling public resentment. Meanwhile, Doctors Without Borders criticized the Israeli blockade as inhumane, stressing the devastating impact on Gaza’s population. Qatar and Egypt condemned the move, labeling it a violation of humanitarian laws.
The UN reported that before this crisis, approximately half of Gazans were dependent on food assistance. As the situation deteriorates, NGOs struggling with limited reserves express their fears of an impending health catastrophe amidst ongoing violence.
This blockade comes on the heels of a prolonged conflict that has claimed a staggering number of lives, intensifying the need for humanitarian aid in the besieged region.
With the blockade in place, Gazans fear that the conditions will only worsen, highlighting the fragile state of humanitarian needs in the region.
