Aid Worker in Gaza Warns of Worsening Hunger and Scarcity

A long-serving humanitarian aid coordinator in northern Gaza says residents are facing critical shortages of food, water, and essential supplies as the region's infrastructure remains heavily damaged. Amjad Al Shawa, director of the Palestinian NGO Network, described to NPR the daily struggle to secure even a single meal for his family, noting that basic items such as flour, sugar, and vegetables have become scarce and prohibitively expensive. He recounted paying $60 for two dishes of salad for his family and said a kilogram of flour now costs about $20.

Al Shawa reported that many families are surviving on minimal rations, with bread and rice often being the only available food. He highlighted the particular vulnerability of infants, explaining that mothers are unable to breastfeed due to malnutrition and that milk is unavailable, forcing some to feed children boiled rice water. Water access is also severely limited, with humanitarian agencies providing only 3 to 5 liters per person per day, compared to 80 liters before the conflict.

The United Nations-backed IPC classification estimates that over 470,000 people in Gaza are experiencing catastrophic hunger. Al Shawa warned that thousands could die of starvation in the coming days if the situation does not change, emphasizing the urgent need for food, water, hygiene, and medical supplies. He said, "We need everything. Everything. And I cannot separate the food from water, from hygiene, from medicine."

In response to allegations of deliberate starvation, Israeli military spokesperson Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin stated, "We are not starving anyone. It's not an aim. It's not a war aim for us. We are fighting Hamas. Hamas is using his population as human shield cynically in order to create this campaign of starvation against Israel, against the IDF." The Israeli military has called accusations of intentional starvation "false" and said it continues humanitarian operations in Gaza.

Al Shawa described widespread destruction in his neighborhood, with many homes damaged and tents set up throughout the area. He expressed deep concern for the immediate future, urging international medical and nutrition experts to intervene to prevent further loss of life.