RAFAH, Gaza Strip – The World Food Program announced on Tuesday that it has halted the delivery of food to the isolated northern Gaza due to increased turmoil in the area, raising concerns about the possibility of widespread starvation. The U.N. children’s agency released a study warning that one out of every six children in the north is suffering from severe malnutrition.
The entry of aid trucks into the besieged territory has seen a drastic decrease over the past two weeks, according to U.N. figures. Both U.N. and relief workers have expressed difficulties in the intake of trucks and distribution as a result of Israeli military actions and a breakdown in security, leading to frequent incidents of Palestinians overwhelming trucks to obtain food.
The deterioration of the aid operation has the potential to worsen the suffering in the territory, where Israel’s air and ground offensive in response to Hamas’ attack in October has resulted in extensive damage, a death toll of over 29,000 Palestinians, destruction of entire neighborhoods, and the displacement of more than 80% of the population of 2.3 million.
In the past two days, heavy fighting and airstrikes have resurged in areas of northern Gaza, despite the Israeli military’s previous claim that these areas had been largely cleared of Hamas weeks ago. The ongoing chaos and violence have made it difficult for aid to reach those in need.
The situation in northern Gaza has left families resorting to drastic measures to feed themselves, including limiting meals to one per day and sometimes even using animal and bird fodder to bake bread. This dire situation has left many families on the brink of starvation.
The World Food Program highlighted the urgent need to resume aid deliveries to the north, emphasizing the necessity of opening crossing points for aid directly into northern Gaza from Israel and implementing a better notification system to coordinate with the Israeli military. The situation continues to worsen, with a report by the Global Nutrition Cluster revealing alarming statistics about food poverty, lack of clean water, and infectious diseases affecting children in Gaza.