**Gaza on the Brink: Community Kitchens Warn of Food Shortage as Israeli Blockade Continues**
The Gaza Strip is facing a dire food shortage, with community kitchens warning that they are running out of supplies after two months of Israeli blockade. The situation is critical, with hundreds of thousands of people relying on these kitchens for their daily meals.
In an interview with the BBC, Sami Matar, team leader of American Near East Refugee Aid (Anera), a US-based humanitarian organization, described the desperate conditions in Gaza. “People depend on our meals,” he said. “They have no income to buy the food that’s left at the local markets, and many foods aren’t available.” Anera’s kitchen in Khan Younis provides food for 6,000 people every day, but if Israel doesn’t lift its blockade, the kitchens will soon be unable to provide any more food.
The situation has been exacerbated by Israel’s decision to close all crossings into Gaza two months ago, preventing food, fuel, and medicines from entering. The UN World Food Programme and Unrwa (the agency for Palestinian refugees) have recently announced that they have exhausted all their food aid. Tom Fletcher, a UN official, warned that aid should not be used as a bargaining tool, saying “Blocking assistance starves civilians. They are left without basic medical care. They are stripped of their dignity and hope.”
**The Human Cost**
The impact on Gaza’s residents is devastating. An elderly man, clutching two packages of koshari (a traditional dish made with lentils, rice, and tomato sauce), said “Thank God, this is enough” for his seven-person family. A mother, who looked weary, described the situation as “tragic and it continues to worsen.” She said that life in Gaza was humiliating, with men unable to work and products expensive and scarce.
The blockade has had a devastating impact on Gaza’s economy, with around 500,000 people displaced since March 18. The UN has warned that the current situation is “likely the worst ever” due to the blockade and renewed offensive.
**International Pressure**
There is increasing international pressure on Israel to lift its blockade, with warnings that intentionally starving civilians could be considered a war crime. The US President, Donald Trump, recently said that “we must be good to Gaza,” and Israeli officials have indicated that they plan to overhaul their aid distribution system.
In the meantime, aid workers are carefully rationing the remaining stock of food in Gaza’s community kitchens. Mr Matar described the desperation of his job, saying “I don’t even know what will happen when our supplies run out.” He urged the international community to take action, saying “Please, let’s open the crossings.”
**A Call to Action**
As the situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate, it is essential that the international community takes immediate action. The blockade must be lifted, and aid allowed to enter the territory. The human cost of this crisis cannot be ignored, and it is our collective responsibility to ensure that these vulnerable people receive the assistance they so desperately need.
**Read More**
For more information on this story, please visit: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2vz02e7g8o
