ActionAid Palestine Continues Emergency Food Response in Gaza Strip
Gaza Strip – Palestine – Amid the worsening humanitarian conditions due to the ongoing war, ActionAid Palestine has supported the distribution of vegetable baskets to displaced families in Khan Yunis, Deir al-Balah, Nuseirat, and Zawaida. This response that was carried out in collaboration with the Palestinian Women’s Development Studies Association, aims to address some of the urgent nutritional needs of displaced families living under challenging circumstances.
The humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip has worsened due to the strict restrictions imposed by the Israeli occupation authorities since last October 2023. These measures have disrupted the entry of aid and goods through the Kerem Shalom crossing. As a result, basic supplies have run out in the markets, and prices have skyrocketed, threatening the lives of 2.3 million Palestinians, including residents and displaced individuals in the southern part of the strip, who are now facing the risk of famine.
ActionAid and its partners have continued their emergency response to meet food needs in Gaza, where hunger, destruction, and devastation have reached unprecedented levels. Markets are empty, food supplies barely arrive, and harsh weather conditions worsen the suffering of residents struggling daily to survive. Looting and attacks on humanitarian aid convoys continue to obstruct the delivery of assistance to southern and central Gaza, while efforts by partners in the food security sector to deliver life-saving aid to the besieged areas in northern Gaza face significant challenges for more than 60 days due to the tightened blockade.
As of December 9, only 4 out of 19 bakeries supported by the World Food Program were operational in the Gaza Strip, all of which are located in Gaza Governorate. There is a flour crisis in Gaza, with recent reports indicating that the price of a bag of flour has reached at least 1,000 shekels (280 USD) in Deir al-Balah and 875 shekels (245 USD) in Khan Yunis.
Before the war, a 100-shekel (about 30 USD) sack of flour was enough for families for several weeks. However, inside Gaza, where more than half of the buildings have been destroyed, productivity has nearly stopped. Mills, storage facilities for flour, and industrial bakeries are unable to operate due to the severe damage caused by the bombings.
About ActionAid International
ActionAid International is a global federation working with over 41 million people across more than 72 of the world's poorest countries. We aim for a world of justice and sustainability, where every individual has the right to live with dignity and freedom, in a world free from poverty and persecution. We work towards social justice, gender equality, and the eradication of poverty.
ActionAid Palestine began its work in Palestine in 2007 to strengthen the resilience of the Palestinian people, believing in their right to enjoy freedom, justice, and self-determination. ActionAid Palestine implements several programs through its engagement with Palestinian communities, youth groups, and women. The organization seeks to empower women and youth and enhance their active civil and political participation to understand their rights and take collective action to address human rights violations resulting from prolonged occupation. Additionally, it aims to improve their leadership capacity and practice citizenship in holding authorities and other responsible parties accountable.
For more information, please contact:
Riham Jafari
Communication and Advocacy Officer, ActionAid Palestine
Email: Riham.Jafari@actionaid.org