GAZA – Dozens of community kitchens in Gaza have ceased operations due to a severe lack of supplies, cutting off a crucial lifeline for hundreds of thousands of people. This development exacerbates the already dire hunger situation in the enclave.
The closures follow an announcement by the World Central Kitchen (WCK) that it has exhausted its ingredient supplies and has been prevented by Israel from bringing in additional aid.
Amjad al-Shawa, director of the Palestinian Non-Governmental Organizations Network (PNGO) in Gaza, reported that most of Gaza’s 170 community kitchens have shut down due to Israel’s ongoing blockade.
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The closure of these kitchens and the WCK’s suspension of operations will result in a loss of 400,000 to 500,000 free meals per day for Gaza’s 2.3 million residents, according to Shawa. He emphasized the widespread hunger in Gaza and called for immediate international action.
Gazans who are attempting to cook independently are facing challenges with contaminated flour, which contains mites and sand.
Mohammad Abu Ayesh, a displaced father of nine, described the poor quality of the flour, stating that it requires multiple sievings to be usable. He expressed the community’s reluctance to consume it but said they are forced to feed it to their children due to a lack of alternatives.
Israel has been under increasing international pressure to lift the aid blockade imposed in March after a U.S.-backed ceasefire collapsed.
Israel has accused agencies, including the United Nations, of allowing aid to fall into the hands of Hamas militants, who allegedly seize supplies intended for civilians.
Hamas denies these allegations and accuses Israel of using starvation as a weapon against the population, most of whom have been displaced during the ongoing conflict.
Shawa noted that the population has seen a reduction in meals from one and a half per day two weeks ago to just one meal per day, lacking essential nutrients. He expressed fears of potential deaths among vulnerable groups due to malnutrition.
Looting of community kitchens, local stores, and U.N. headquarters has led Hamas security forces to crack down on local gangs, with reports of executions of gang members.
The U.N. humanitarian agency OCHA reports that over 2 million people in Gaza face severe food shortages. Food has become scarce and unaffordable in Gaza markets, with flour prices skyrocketing to around $500 for a 25 kg sack, compared to $7 in the past.
