Gaza remains in the grip of a devastating humanitarian crisis, with the UN declaring it the “hungriest place on Earth.” As international relief efforts are severely restricted by Israeli authorities, millions of Gazans face extreme hunger, and the flow of aid continues to be blocked despite the desperate need for food and supplies.
Aid Operations Strangled by Israeli Authorities
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has sounded the alarm on the dire situation in Gaza, stating that the aid operation is one of the most obstructed in recent history. OCHA spokesperson Jens Laerke described Gaza as the only place in the world where the entire population is at risk of famine, with aid distribution severely hampered by the Israeli authorities.
Since the reopening of the Kerem Shalom border crossing 10 days ago, only a fraction of the 900 aid trucks approved to enter Gaza have successfully delivered goods. Laerke noted that fewer than 600 trucks were offloaded, and an even smaller number reached distribution points. He called the delivery process a “drip-feeding” of food to an area on the brink of catastrophic hunger.
Desperate Measures by Hungry Citizens
The lack of aid has pushed desperate residents to take extreme actions. Reports indicate that many of the aid trucks were “swarmed by desperate people” on their way to distribution points, as families scrambled to feed themselves. Laerke emphasized that these supplies, funded by global donors, were meant for the people of Gaza, but the aid’s delivery is being obstructed, creating chaos and panic.
On Wednesday, an incident in Deir Al-Balah saw crowds storming a World Food Programme (WFP) warehouse where wheat flour had been stored for bakeries. The result was tragic, with two people reportedly killed during the incident. The WFP echoed the UN’s warnings, stressing the risks of limiting aid to a population in such desperate need.
Alternative Aid Scheme Faces Criticism
In addition to the ongoing difficulties with UN aid, a new aid distribution initiative backed by the US and Israel has been criticized for exacerbating the crisis. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a private entity, has taken over aid distribution, but the scheme has been met with severe backlash. On Tuesday, at least 47 Palestinians were injured when trying to collect aid from its facilities.
OCHA’s Laerke condemned the alternative aid system, describing it as “engineered scarcity” and pointing out that it has not met the basic needs of Gaza’s population. The distribution scheme, based on a limited number of hubs, has sparked further chaos and posed new risks to those seeking food, with fears of violence and looting escalating.
UN Calls for Unhindered Access and Support
The UN continues to call for the reopening of all border crossing points to allow aid from multiple sources, including Jordan and Egypt. Laerke stressed the necessity of delivering food directly to families in need, without the restrictions that currently hinder relief efforts.
Highlighting the grave challenges of humanitarian access, Laerke pointed out that over 80% of Gaza is within Israeli-controlled militarized zones or under displacement orders. Since the ceasefire collapsed in March, nearly 635,000 Gazans have been displaced, exacerbating the already dire conditions.
