The crisis of systematic starvation continues to engulf the Gaza Strip, and many people are dying as a result of this tragic crisis, and this is not a natural result of the current war, but rather a genocide, a continuous siege, severe restrictions on the entry of goods, fuel and medicines, deliberate destruction of vital infrastructure, and restrictions on the work of relief teams and contact with affected communities. Taken together, these factors left the population with limited choices leading to a sharp decline in food consumption and a rapid rise in malnutrition and mortality rates, especially among children and the elderly.
Impact of the blockade on the food situation in Gaza
The years-long blockade of Gaza, which intensified with the outbreak of the latest war, is one of the most immediate causes of the collapse of food security to unprecedented levels. It not only prevents the entry of food but also disrupts the entire food cycle from production to consumption.
1. Restriction of movement of goods and crossings
Strict restrictions on the introduction of essentials have left local markets almost empty of vital goods such as flour, oils and therapeutic food for children. As goods became scarce, prices rose beyond the ability of households to buy, transforming food from a daily necessity into an almost impossible commodity.
2. The Fuel Crisis and Its Consequences
Fuel is not just an operational material, it is the basis for the continuation of mills, furnaces, water plants, and cooling networks. With no or minimal access, ovens have been unable to produce bread and perishables have been rapidly stockpiled, exacerbating the hunger crisis on a daily basis.
3. Destruction of civilian infrastructure
The raids on furnaces, farms, warehouses, and even water and electricity networks have weakened the sector’s ability to rely on its domestic production or maintain food stocks. Reliance on foreign aid is almost absolute, making the situation even more sensitive to delays and disruptions.
4. Direct impact on the most vulnerable
Children, pregnant women and the elderly are the most affected by the blockade. With the interruption of therapeutic food and milk for children, acute malnutrition rates have risen, and deaths that could have been avoided had the most basic needs been met.
Reasons for the Growing Hunger Crisis in Gaza
1. Siege and closure of aid entry points (restrictions on crossings)
The Israeli occupation forces imposed severe restrictions on the movement of goods, fuel, food and medicine through the border crossings into Gaza, in addition to complex security approvals and restrictions on the quantities and recipes of commercial and humanitarian shipments. It has led to the depletion of commercial food stocks, the collapse of supply chains and a sharp rise in commodity prices, turning food from an available commodity into an unaffordable commodity for large segments of the population.
2. Security threats at distribution points
There were deaths and injuries as residents tried to reach distribution points, and gunfire continued around distribution centers.
Read more about Massacres at food distribution points in Gaza
3. Destruction of critical infrastructure
Repeated strikes on civilian infrastructure (hospitals, ovens, water and electricity networks, food stores) have disrupted ovens and mills, led to bread shortages, damage to perishable products, and a health crisis linked to poor water and nutrition. The interface between health and food has contributed to a vicious cycle of malnutrition deaths.
4. Collapse of the health system
Hospitals are operating with very limited equipment and severe shortages of medicines, fuel, and therapeutic food for malnourished patients.
5. Insecurity and prevention of the work of relief teams
Attacks targeting initial response sites or followed by second strikes after the first, as well as targeting journalists and paramedics, have led to the reluctance of humanitarian workers and the curtailment of their field work. As a result, the number of shipments actually distributed and the concentration of civilians in dangerous places in search of food has decreased, increasing the number of casualties at distribution points and leaving a deterrent effect on the expansion of relief operations.
Children in Gaza amid hunger crisis
Children in the Gaza Strip are the most vulnerable to the ongoing hunger crisis, as their lack of adequate food not only affects their physical health today, but threatens their long-term development and psychological future.
1. Acute and chronic malnutrition as a result of the starvation crisis
Shortages of essential foods, especially milk and protein-rich foods, have led to high rates of acute malnutrition among children, with cases of "severe wasting" and "underweight" emerging at alarming rates. This puts thousands of children at risk of premature death or chronic diseases associated with a weakened immune system.
2. The collapse of child health services
Hospitals and primary care clinics are severely short of therapeutic medicines and supplements for malnourished children. With power outages and fuel shortages, intensive care units and incubators are unable to provide essential care, exacerbating neonatal mortality rates.
3. Disruption of education and deprivation of childhood
The food crisis has prompted thousands of families to shift their priorities from education and play to the search for a living. Many children now spend long hours standing in aid queues, rather than going to schools, which were also disrupted. This reality robs them of their basic right to education, and has a long-term impact on their future.
