Desperation is escalating in the southern Gaza Strip, where food shortages are pushing displaced families to the brink of starvation.
With markets emptied and prices soaring beyond the reach of most, local humanitarian organisations have become a vital lifeline for many, but now that too is at risk.
The crisis in Gaza extends beyond the destruction from bombs; the enclave is increasingly facing a silent and growing threat — hunger.
“Our children will die before our eyes if the aid stops”
Abu Ahmed, a 38-year-old father of four, is one of the many displaced Palestinians in the region facing this distressing predicament. He fled from the northern Gaza Strip to the south, seeking refuge for his family after their home was destroyed in the ongoing conflict.
“Our children will die before our eyes if the aid stops,” he says with visible distress, as he receives his last cooked meal from a nearby charity kitchen.
For Abu Ahmed, these relief efforts have been a lifeline. They are the only source of cooked food for his children, who are all under the age of 12.
“We used to sleep somewhat reassured knowing that at least we would get a meal — even if it was just a plate or two to fill their stomachs,” he explains. But now, after weeks of increasingly scarce supplies, the hospices have announced they will be forced to shut down.
“This is a death sentence for us,” he says, his voice breaking. “If they close, we have no way to feed our children.”
The situation in the southern Gaza Strip has reached a crisis point. The UN reported last month that over 1.8 million Palestinians in Gaza are facing “extremely critical” hunger, with 70% of crop fields destroyed during the ongoing conflict.
With flour and other staple goods running out in local markets and prices soaring to unaffordable levels, families like Abu Ahmed’s are increasingly reliant on the soup kitchens and charitable organisations that have been providing basic meals. However, as these organisations deplete their stockpiles, many are being forced to scale back operations or close entirely.
Currently, 133,000 people are experiencing “catastrophic” food insecurity according to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), a measuring standard used by Governments, and UN Agencies to assess the severity of food insecurity and malnutrition. This figure is expected to rise to 345,000 by next April, with 16% of Gaza’s population at risk.
A slow death
Umm Jana, a 60-year-old displaced woman, describes this as the “hungriest” time she has known in over a year of displacement.
“I cannot provide even a small meal for my children and grandchildren,” she says, explaining that she and her older children try to stretch the limited food they receive from the local charity organisations.
“We divide what we get between the children, making sure they eat first, but the adults are going without. This is a slow death.”
“The situation has gone from bad to worse. We’ve had to reduce the food portions and now, there’s nothing left to give”
Umm Jana, like many others, is unable to afford food from the markets. The price of basic items has skyrocketed — a kilo of rice now costs 30 shekels (roughly $8), while flour has reached over 20 shekels ($5) per kilo.
Vegetables have become a luxury. “We can’t even think about buying them,” she says, shaking her head in disbelief.
The conditions at local organisations are dire. Dr Baha Al-Ghalban, the supervisor of a humanitarian effort run by the Ihsan Foundation for Humanitarian Relief in Khan Yunis, explained that they have been forced to stop cooking altogether after running out of essential supplies.
“We’ve been struggling since September, but today is the day we can no longer continue,” he says, his voice heavy with sorrow.
“The situation has gone from bad to worse. We’ve had to reduce the food portions and now, there’s nothing left to give.”
Dr Al-Ghalban blames the Israeli blockade, which has severely limited the entry of food and supplies into Gaza over the past several months.
“We used to buy in bulk, but now we’re getting only a few kilos at a time from small vendors who themselves are running out of stock,” he explains.
“The displaced people don’t care about borders or sieges; they just need food. But with the hospices shutting down, they have nowhere else to turn.”
Hospices in the area are overwhelmed, with some closing for days or weeks due to a lack of food.
“The number of families needing food has doubled, but we can’t increase the portions. We’ve already cut back so much. This isn’t just a food crisis — it’s a war of starvation,” Dr Al-Ghalban says, his eyes filled with frustration.
‘Does the world see us?’
Despite these hardships, the world remains largely silent, according to Abu Ahmed. “Why are our children dying of hunger?” he asks, his voice rising in anguish.
“Does the world see us as less than human? Why is no one helping? My children are crying for food and there is nothing I can do.”
Abu Ahmed calls on international relief organisations to step in and provide urgent support to the hospices, to ensure that they can continue to feed the displaced families who depend on them for survival.
“We can’t wait any longer. Our children are starving. Please, do something before it’s too late.”
As winter approaches and food supplies continue to dwindle, many displaced families face increasingly dire conditions. Gazans are holding onto the hope that humanitarian aid will provide the support they need to survive and help address the escalating crisis in the enclave.
Dr Al-Ghalban, like many others, is pleading for urgent action.
“Our children are hungry, and if no one helps them, they will die of hunger. It’s a race against time, and we are running out of it.”
Mohamed Solaimane is a Gaza-based journalist with bylines in regional and international outlets, focusing on humanitarian and environmental issues
This piece is published in collaboration with Egab
