Cairo: Hani Kamal El-Din
The Director of the World Food Program in the Palestinian territories, Antoine Renard, has warned that the organization’s food supplies will run out in a week and a half, affecting hundreds of thousands of people in northern Gaza. He made this statement in an interview with the Financial Times, emphasizing that the food situation in the region is heading toward a humanitarian disaster if urgent measures are not taken.
Renard pointed out that the organization will no longer be able to provide hot meals to people in northern Gaza after two weeks, and that bread supplies will be exhausted in seven days unless Israel permits a significant increase in humanitarian aid shipments to the region. He stressed that the situation has become “intolerable” after a year of war, with the organization still compelled to operate daily to meet the growing needs of the population.
While Israel denies imposing any restrictions on aid supplies to Gaza, the country announced two days ago that 50 trucks carrying food, water, and medical supplies provided by Jordan had entered northern Gaza. However, Renard confirmed that the quantities received are insufficient, noting that the organization managed to collect only 12 trucks of wheat flour, which is enough to feed only a limited portion of the population.
Ibrahim Al-Harabishi, a lawyer and father of four from the city of Jabalia in northern Gaza, spoke about the worsening food crisis, stating, “The current hunger is worse than before. Today, there is nothing available, no herbs growing on the ground, and even canned goods, if they exist, require endless money to buy.” He confirmed that residents have flour but no bread, as they cannot light their ovens due to fear of going out to collect firewood.
According to UN data, approximately 1.4 million people in Gaza are suffering from severe water and food shortages, placing the population in a perilous humanitarian situation that demands urgent intervention from the international community to avoid further deterioration of conditions. This harsh reality necessitates a swift international response to provide essential aid and open crossings to ensure the entry of vital humanitarian assistance.
The situation in Gaza reflects the depth of the humanitarian crisis affecting the region, where residents face multiple challenges impacting their daily lives. These extraordinary circumstances require an urgent international effort to ensure the safety and security of civilians and to provide for their basic needs, especially food and water, to ensure their survival in these difficult conditions.
