CARE Reports Food Supplies in Gaza Running Out

The weekend’s escalation of violence has halted many distributions of essential goods such as food and medical supplies.

The escalation of violence in Gaza is threatening the distribution of both food and medical supplies. people are forced to leave their home to find food. “People do not have money to buy food, and what little food there is in the markets is running out,” said Yazdan El-Amawi, CARE’s Emergency Team Leader in Gaza. “Even if you have money, people are terrified to leave their homes to buy food because of the bombings. If you are outside, you might be mistaken as a target.” CARE immediately distributed medical supplies, blankets, heaters and winterization kits, and a week’s worth of fresh vegetables to hospitals, families and homebound individuals, When the shelling began Dec. 27. But since the escalation of military activities on Jan. 3, it has become too dangerous for farmers to transport their produce for CARE to distribute to needy families. Medical supplies that CARE delivered to Gaza on Friday are sitting in a warehouse, as hospital staff are unable to transport it to where it’s needed because of the heavy fighting. “I was at a feeding center on Saturday, where hundreds of people were lined up for hours to get food,” said El-Amawi. “The feeding centre is right next to the police station, which was evacuated because it was deemed a target. It’s horrible; mothers, fathers, children are all waiting to get food, but they know it’s a restricted area that could be hit any moment.” Electricity is not functioning in 75 percent of Gaza, and the UN reports 23 bakeries have already been forced to close due to a lack of cooking fuel. Only 10 bakeries remain fully operational, and wheat flour is scarce. Four hours in line at a bakery will yield just a half a loaf of bread – barely enough for a family for one day. “People are rationing what they eat,” said El-Amawi. “I don’t know how much longer people can hold out. They are trying to make things last, but in a week or less, if the situation continues, if we don’t get more food and emergency supplies, people will collapse.” There have been thousands wounded and more than 500 Palestinians and five Israelis have died in the recent fighting. CARE again calls for all sides to agree on an immediate ceasefire and end all violence that targets or injures civilians; immediate and unfettered humanitarian access to civilians in need; and a comprehensive and permanent truce.