Title: Gaza Faces Deepening Hunger Crisis as Aid Blockade Nears Two Months
As the full Israeli blockade of Gaza approaches its second month, the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) and the World Food Programme (WFP) report that food stocks in the enclave have now been fully depleted. Meanwhile, life-saving aid remains stranded at border crossings, unable to reach those in desperate need.
Escalating Hunger and Supply Shortages
Aid agencies warn that hunger is spreading rapidly throughout the Gaza Strip, fueled by ongoing access restrictions, military operations, and increased looting. Over two million people in Gaza, most of whom rely on humanitarian assistance, have been cut off from all aid and commercial supplies since Israel tightened the blockade on 2 March 2025. This marks the longest such restriction since the conflict began in October 2023, following a deadly Hamas-led attack on Israel.
The blockade has not only dried up food supplies but also led to critical shortages of water, medicine, and shelter materials. According to WFP, food prices in Gaza have soared by 1,400 percent compared to the previous ceasefire period, which spanned from 19 January to 18 March 2025.
Scarcity, Solidarity, and Shame
UNRWA has shared stories from residents like Um Muhammad, who is sheltering in Gaza City and preparing food for her extended family of 11. Though she still has some flour left, many nearby families have none.
“When I knead and bake, I feel very ashamed of myself, so I distribute some bread to the children who come asking for a piece,” she said. “We eat one meal a day—just bread, canned food, lentils, and rice. When that runs out, I don’t know what we’ll do. There’s almost nothing left on the market.”
Malnutrition on the Rise
The crisis is particularly dire for children. Humanitarian agencies have identified more than 10,000 cases of acute malnutrition among children since January, including 1,600 cases classified as severe acute malnutrition. Although medical treatment for malnutrition is still available in the southern parts of Gaza, access to these supplies is hindered by danger and limited mobility.
UNRWA delivered its last remaining supplies to community kitchens last Friday. These kitchens, which have been a nutritional lifeline in recent weeks, are expected to close within days due to a lack of food. Sixteen have already ceased operations over the weekend, and all 25 bakeries supported by WFP have also shut down.
Reports of looting are increasing. Over the weekend, armed individuals reportedly stormed a humanitarian aid truck in Deir Al-Balah and another attacked a warehouse in Gaza City, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). A new analysis by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) is currently underway to assess the full scope of the famine risk.
Healthcare in Collapse
Healthcare is also being severely affected. OCHA has reported an alarming shortage of trauma-related medical materials just as the number of casualties continues to rise. Gaza’s hospitals are running out of essential surgical items such as gowns, gloves, and drapes. The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed that its Gaza warehouse is now out of therapeutic milk, intravenous antibiotics, painkillers, and key equipment for ambulances and oxygen stations.
There is also a staffing crisis. Emergency medical teams—including orthopedic and plastic surgeons—are increasingly being denied entry to Gaza, compounding the challenges faced by medical facilities across the territory.
Aid Stockpiles Stalled at Borders
Despite the worsening situation, humanitarian partners remain committed to assisting the people of Gaza. Thousands of trucks loaded with food and emergency supplies are stationed just outside the Strip, ready to enter as soon as border crossings are reopened. UNRWA alone has nearly 3,000 trucks waiting, while WFP has stockpiled over 116,000 metric tonnes of food—enough to feed one million people for up to four months.
Until access is granted, however, humanitarian responders are forced to work with the dwindling supplies already inside Gaza, doing what they can to alleviate suffering amid one of the most severe humanitarian crises in the region’s recent history.
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