The United Nations World Food Programme has stated that the food situation in the besieged and blockaded Gaza Strip is in dire straits, as aid for the Palestinian enclave accumulates at the only crossing not controlled by Israel.
This announcement coincides with a worsening humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian enclave, home to 2.3 million people, as Israel prepares to intensify its offensive following a surprise attack by Hamas on October 7.
Gaza authorities report that Israeli airstrikes have killed more than 3,000 people, with approximately a quarter of them being children. Furthermore, hospitals are facing severe shortages of medical supplies while accommodating 12,500 wounded individuals.
Abeer Etefa, the Middle East spokeswoman for the World Food Programme, reported that food stocks in shops are dwindling, with only four or five days’ worth of supplies left. The shortage is particularly acute for bread, as only one out of five flour mills in Gaza is operational due to security concerns and fuel shortages.
Etefa mentioned that only five out of 23 bakeries in Gaza contracted by WFP are still in operation, and their food supplies are running extremely low.
Regarding the security situation, an Israeli army spokesperson stated that they are preparing for the next phase of their campaign against Gaza but did not confirm an imminent ground offensive.
Aid agencies have been delivering supplies to El Arish airport in Egypt, which is approximately 20 kilometers from the Rafah border crossing—the sole entry point into Gaza not controlled by Israel.
The WFP has mobilized over 300 metric tonnes of food, either at or on its way to the Rafah border crossing from Egypt, which can feed approximately 250,000 people for a week.
Negotiation on Aid Access
The UN’s humanitarian chief, Martin Griffiths will arrive in Cairo for a visit to the region, where he will negotiate aid access to the Gaza Strip. Additionally, Dr. Richard Brennan, regional emergency director of the World Health Organization Eastern Mediterranean regional office, is working to open access to Gaza as soon as possible.
