At present, the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip continues to worsen. In the northern Gaza Strip, the World Food Programme (WFP) issued a statement on 20 February suspending deliveries to the northern Gaza Strip due to the inability to ensure the safety of convoys carrying food and other supplies. And as aid flows into the Gaza Strip continue to dwindle, the Gaza Strip is in the grip of a hunger crisis.
Prior to the current round of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, 500 trucks carrying supplies entered the Gaza Strip every day. United Nations statistics show that from 9 to 20 February, an average of 57 trucks arrived in the Gaza Strip to deliver aid per day, with only 20 or fewer trucks passing through on seven days and four on 17 February. This has also made it more difficult for the northern Gaza Strip, including the Jabaliya refugee camp, to access food and other supplies, and the local population faces hunger.
Matthew Hollingworth, Director of the World Food Programme in Palestine: Food insecurity in the northern Gaza Strip is absolutely at a level of absolute proportions, people have not eaten for a long time, they will go without food for 2 days, 3 days, 4 days. The community there lives on the so-called bread, which is made from ground bran, which is actually animal feed, but is used to make bread, and even this food, which they ran out of a few weeks ago. So when it comes to food insecurity, the situation on the ground is absolutely dire.
According to the World Food Programme, food and drinking water in the Gaza Strip have become extremely scarce, with one in six children under the age of two facing acute malnutrition in the northern Gaza Strip.
Awadeya, resident of Jabaliya refugee camp: There is no milk in the market, so we have to buy dates and boil them for the child (syrup) or chamomile, which I have to do because I won't be able to feed her.
Marwan, resident of Jabaliya refugee camp: Right now we are suffering from a lack or lack of access to any type of food, including vegetables, fruits, cereals and even fodder.
*: CCTV news client.