A devastating humanitarian crisis grips Gaza as families face starvation, displacement, and limited access to clean water, with aid deliveries restricted by Israeli forces.
Palestinians Without Homes or Food
Thousands of Palestinians in Gaza are left without homes, food, or basic necessities, relying on charity kitchens to survive. AFP captured harrowing scenes of residents desperately scraping rice grains from the bottom of containers and plastic bags, as one displaced family member, Yousef Hamad, stated: “We have no homes, no food, no means to live… we must use the charity kitchen, which still cannot satisfy our hunger.”
Famine Declared in Gaza
Israel’s recent offensive in Gaza has exacerbated the crisis, with the right-wing government aiming to seize control of the city and the broader Gaza Strip. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification confirmed a famine, affecting 614,000 people by the end of September, while over a million face an “alert phase.” A report emphasized that the famine is entirely man-made and could be reversed with urgent action.
Driven From Place to Place
Subhi Muhammad Asfour, 46, told NBC News his family has moved seven times in search of “food, shelter, and hope.” Now, they must flee the Israeli-attacked city. “I want the war to end. I want to sleep, take a shower, eat. We want to raise our children. If God allows, the war will end before we grow tired, before we escape, or before we die,” he said.
Lentils and Rice Donated by Neighbors
Sabah Antaiz, 55, a resident on Gaza’s outskirts, described their daily meals: “A little in the morning to stave off hunger, and some at night. We eat za’atar, cheese, or salted bread—no vegetables, no cooked food.” Her husband, 60, suffers from severe illness, and they lost 10 family members in a Tuffah district strike, including parents, grandchildren, and nieces. Ibtisam Saleh, 50, who now lives in a tent after 20 displacements, survives on one daily meal of lentils, relying on neighbors’ donations due to her health issues.
Great Joy from Pasta and Tomatoes
Riham Kaiem, 35, lives in a tent with her husband and 10 children, displaced from Beit Hanoun, which was razed months ago. A lentil can is the only meal for her family that day, while evenings bring “thyme, cheese with bread, or just bread.” Her son scavenged a kilogram of pasta and a tomato sauce can from an aid distribution point, bringing “joy as if he were flying home,” according to the family.
Palestinians Killed While Receiving Aid
Over 50 people have died in Israeli attacks on Gaza by 9 p.m. local time, with at least 16 killed at food distribution sites. DropSite News highlighted this as the second day since the famine was officially declared. The UN, UNICEF, and WHO urged urgent large-scale aid. Israel’s plans for a prolonged offensive risk displacing a million civilians, worsening the humanitarian catastrophe.
Source: Gazeta, https://wiadomosci.gazeta.pl/rzad#anchorLink, https://wiadomosci.gazeta.pl/Razem#anchorLink, https://wiadomosci.gazeta.pl/pieniadze#anchorLink, https://www.tokfm.pl/Tokfm/7, https://wiadomosci.gazeta.pl/WHO#anchorLink, https://wiadomosci.gazeta.pl/swiat/7
