UNRWA warns of Gaza’s growing food crisis amid Israeli aid blockade
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has said that it is unable to distribute essential food supplies in the Gaza Strip due to the ongoing Israeli blockade on humanitarian aid to Gaza.
“Humanitarian aid and supplies have not entered the Gaza Strip for over 50 days now … when the Israeli authorities imposed a siege,” the agency said in a statement released on Thursday.
“As a result, critical humanitarian supplies, including food, fuel medical aid and vaccines for children, are rapidly depleting,” it said.
The agency stressed that its flour supplies have run out and only 250 food parcels remain — containing rice, lentils, beans, oil, salt, sugar, milk powder, hummus, halawa/halva, yeast and canned fish – designed to meet the needs of a family of five for two weeks.
UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini stated on Tuesday that nearly 3,000 trucks are ready to deliver critical humanitarian aid to Gaza. However, the Israeli military has blocked all shipments of goods into the region since March 2, according to UNRWA.
“Hunger is spreading & deepening, deliberate & manmade,” Lazzarini wrote on X, describing Gaza as “a land of desperation.”
The World Food Programme has reported that food prices have soared by up to 700% compared to before the Gaza war.
The last ceasefire phase between Israel and the Palestinian militant organization Hamas ended a month ago. Israeli armed forces then resumed their attacks in the Gaza Strip.
At least 1.9 million people — approximately 90% of Gaza’s population — have been displaced, many multiple times, according to UN figures.
Israel says 24 hostages are still being held in Gaza, as well as the bodies of 35 people kidnapped by Hamas terrorists during the unprecedented attack on October 7, 2023, when some 1,200 people were killed in Israeli communities and more than 250 Israelis taken hostage.
According to the Hamas-controlled health authority in the Gaza Strip, more than 51,300 people have been killed since then. The figures do not distinguish between civilian and militant deaths.
