Chaos, Hunger, and Attacks: Gaza's Aid Crisis Worsens

Post by : Jyoti Singh

Photo: Reuters

Since the war between Israel and Hamas started, life for the people in Gaza has become extremely difficult. Now, after many months of violence, the biggest problem they face is hunger. Food is very hard to find, and even when aid trucks manage to enter the area, the food is often stolen, resold, or taken by force.

The war has made it unsafe for aid workers to bring in supplies. Armed gangs, local merchants, and even regular people who are desperate have taken over the delivery and selling of food. Some people are forced to buy food that was supposed to be free. And the prices are shockingly high.

For example, one kilogram of flour is being sold for up to \$60. A kilogram of lentils may cost as much as \$35. Most people in Gaza cannot afford these prices, especially after nearly two years of war, job loss, and destroyed homes.

Even though Israel recently agreed to allow more aid into Gaza, prices are still very high, and the help is not reaching everyone who needs it. In many markets, bags of flour still have the United Nations (UN) logo or labels from a group called the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), showing that this food was meant to be given away for free. But much of it ends up in the hands of people selling it for profit.

There is no way to fully track where the aid goes. The UN and GHF say they don’t know who ends up with the food. During the chaos of aid distributions, it’s usually the strongest or most aggressive people who manage to grab something.

Mohammed Abu Taha, a father living in a tent near the city of Rafah, said groups of young men often take control at the front of the lines at GHF distribution points. It’s a big business, he said, describing how some people collect aid not to feed themselves but to sell it for money.

Aid Distribution Filled With Danger

The UN has warned that around 100,000 women and children are suffering from severe hunger. Some aid workers have said they don’t have enough food. Gaza’s Health Ministry reported that dozens of people have already died from hunger-related causes in just the past three weeks.

Even when the UN gets permission from Israel to deliver aid, trucks often come under attack. Sometimes it’s by gangs, other times it’s just crowds of desperate people trying to grab food. The UN says its aid workers can’t safely distribute food unless there is a proper ceasefire and better security.

A spokesperson from the UN’s World Food Program said last week that they are doing what they can. If people take food from the trucks, that’s okay as long as there is no violence, the spokesperson said.

On the other hand, the GHF, which is an American group working in Gaza, has its problems. People trying to get aid from them often have to run through dangerous areas, risking their lives. Over 1,000 Palestinians have reportedly been killed by Israeli soldiers since May while trying to reach food, especially near GHF locations.

The Israeli army says it only fires warning shots to keep people away from its troops. GHF says its security only uses pepper spray or fires into the air to stop stampedes.

Aid Is Being Stolen or Resold

Some people go to aid sites just to collect food and then sell it. A man in his 30s, who didn’t want to give his name, said he had gone to GHF sites over 40 times and often brought food home. But he sold most of it so he could buy other things his family needed.

Another woman named Heba Jouda said that even after people manage to get food, they are often robbed on the way home. Armed men take the food, and merchants offer to buy it and then resell it for high prices.To get food from the American organisation, you have to be strong and fast, she said.

Videos from Gaza show huge crowds of men racing down fenced paths, trying to grab boxes of food. GHF said they are trying to create separate lanes for women and children and also plan to deliver more food directly into communities.

UN Trucks Also Face Chaos

UN trucks are often surrounded by large crowds as soon as they arrive. People rush toward the trucks, and in some cases, people are hurt or killed in the crush. The UN does not accept protection from Israeli soldiers, saying it prefers local help and community support.

The Israeli military did not respond to questions about food being stolen or sold. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denied that people in Gaza are starving. There is no starvation in Gaza he said.

How It All Got Worse

Earlier in the war, the UN was able to deliver aid more safely. During a short ceasefire earlier this year, up to 600 trucks entered Gaza daily. Food was more affordable, and the situation was more under control.

The UN said it had systems to prevent aid from being stolen in large amounts. But Israel claimed that Hamas was taking some of the aid. No solid proof of that has been shared.

Then in March, the situation took a turn for the worse. Israel ended the ceasefire and stopped nearly all imports, including food. They captured large parts of Gaza, hoping to pressure Hamas into freeing hostages.

Without Hamas-led police in some areas, local gangs and tribes took control. Some residents say Israel supports these groups, but there is no clear proof.

GHF was started in May to make sure Hamas does not steal aid. But since then, only about 70 aid trucks are allowed in daily. The UN says at least 500 are needed. Israel said over the weekend that it would increase this number, and 180 trucks entered on Sunday. International airdrops of food have also started again, but aid groups say they are not very helpful.

Fighting Still Blocks Food

Even when Israeli forces stop their attacks during the day, it’s not clear if people will be able to get food safely. There is also a fear that Hamas fighters may be hiding among the crowds trying to get aid, but there is no clear evidence.

GHF said they try to make sure Hamas cannot control the food deliveries. “Our concern is to stop organised control of aid by Hamas. Individual people may receive food, but Hamas cannot control the flow,” the group said.

Hamas denies stealing aid. It’s also unclear if they are involved in the aid trade. Some experts say Hamas fighters would be risking their lives if they tried to operate in Israeli-controlled zones.

UN Says Only a Ceasefire Can Help

The UN has asked Israel to end the blockade and let in a much larger amount of food. If there is enough food for everyone, people won’t need to fight or steal for it, and prices will go down.

A new ceasefire would also bring more aid and possibly the release of Israeli hostages. But peace talks are stuck, and nothing has changed yet.

The war started in October 2023 when Hamas fighters entered Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. Around 50 are still being held. Since then, over 59,000 Palestinians have died in Israeli attacks, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. Many of them are women and children.

The Health Ministry is part of the Hamas-run government, but it is managed by doctors. Israel says the numbers are not correct but has not given its figures.

In the end, most agree: Without a ceasefire and real peace, the people of Gaza will continue to suffer — from bombs, hunger, and fear

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