The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation as to prepare to establish four distribution centers. Led by the United States and Israel, this collaborative effort hopes to see these locations opened by the end of the month. This collective effort comes in direct response to the dire and worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza. Residents are enduring extreme shortages in basic commodities from Israel’s total blockade, which began March 2. Israel’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) adamantly declares that there is no food shortage. The reality on the ground paints a much different picture.
After months of limited access to supplies, Israel has recently allowed a limited number of trucks carrying food and humanitarian supplies into Gaza. According to COGAT, more than 300 trucks have delivered supplies to the territory since Monday. This figure represents only a fraction of the pre-conflict $6.7 billion dollars. At the time, daily deliveries jumped up to as much as 500-600 trucks per day.
The challenging environment is made all the more difficult by attacks and looting. In Deir Al-Balah, armed gangs attacked humanitarian supply trucks, shooting the drivers and stealing what they were transporting. On Thursday night, 30 aid trucks in southern and central Gaza were set on fire. Nahid Shuheiber, head of Gaza’s transport association, corroborated these disturbing claims. He underscored that now the safety of humanitarian deliveries is a key issue.
Abdel Nasser Al-Ajrami, chairman of the Palestinian transport association, has called urgently on international players to intervene. He underscored that Israel needs to allow basic humanitarian supplies into Gaza. Goods such as flour, sugar, yeast, salt and diesel fuel are desperately needed by the 300+ people currently living on the island. The continued blockade is making it impossible for bakeries to operate throughout the region. They cannot access the essential ingredients required to bake a loaf of bread.
The Bakery Owners Association of Gaza is taking a courageous stand. They expressed that bakeries will have to close their doors permanently due to extreme conditions. This ruling highlights the extent of the crisis, with families in Gaza today finding it harder and harder to source their meals. For these reasons, the World Food Programme (WFP) has been urged to concentrate on delivering flour directly to families in need.
Residents have documented their outrage and devastation as they deal with this man-made disaster. Jihad Al Shafie, a Gaza resident, recounted his experience of leaving empty-handed after waiting in line for bread that was ultimately unavailable. Similarly, Ina’am Al Burdeini described her exhausting hour-long walk to a bakery, only to find herself amidst a large crowd, all vying for limited supplies. She expressed in her own words the frustrations and abandonment, all while remaining strong in the pain that the war has forced her to endure.
COGAT maintains that by letting in the bare minimum of food into Gaza, they are preventing a catastrophic humanitarian crisis from developing. Many residents are not convinced by these assertions. The reality on the ground couldn’t be more different than what officials are boasting. Our families are struggling enough as it is, fighting every day just to get by.
As the situation continues to unfold, the humanitarian efforts led by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation aim to alleviate some of these challenges. The establishment of distribution sites is a step forward, but significant hurdles remain in ensuring that essential goods reach those in need without interruption.
