Grocery supplies in the Gaza Strip are critically low, with reports indicating only five days of flour available to sustain bakeries due to an ongoing Israeli lockdown that has lasted nearly a month. The UN World Food Programme warns of potential starvation for the two million residents of Gaza, following a ceasefire that had allowed aid to flow into the region. The recent resumption of Israeli airstrikes has further hindered aid efforts, with over 800 people killed in a March 18 airstrike, and a previously estimated death toll exceeding 50,000 since a Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023.
Currently, only 19 bakeries are operational, and with limited resources, their flour will only support bread production for 800,000 people for five days. Aid organizations emphasize the desperate situation, highlighting that many families are facing malnutrition and reduced food parcel distributions. Despite the dire need, there are reports of substantial food supplies waiting at the borders, contingent on Israeli approval for entry.
Israeli authorities maintain that the lockdown is aimed at pressuring Hamas to release hostages. The companion rise in food prices and the destruction of homes due to the conflict further complicates the humanitarian crisis, as organizations struggle to provide adequate shelter and resources in light of new evacuation orders affecting a vast number of residents. Future military plans also suggest a potential ground invasion, which could exacerbate the already critical food situation.
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