Desperation and Hunger: Gaza Faces an Unprecedented Humanitarian Catastrophe

The Gaza Strip is experiencing one of the most severe humanitarian disasters in modern history. According to local residents, international organizations, and media reports, the situation on the ground is close to complete collapse: there is no food, medicine, or functioning medical assistance. People are dying en masse from hunger, thirst, and injuries sustained as a result of the ongoing conflict.

According to Mahmoud al-Kurasli, a resident of East Gaza, between 100 and 150 people die every day. He told Al Jazeera that the region is in total despair: “There is nothing left. Everything that could be borrowed or traded has long disappeared. We are dying before each other’s eyes” (source).

According to UNICEF, one in three Palestinians in Gaza goes without food for several consecutive days. More than 160 people have already died of hunger, including 92 children. International experts warn that the situation is close to a formal famine declaration — and without urgent aid, the death toll will continue to rise (Al Jazeera).

The medical infrastructure has been almost completely destroyed. As The Washington Post writes, over 90% of hospitals are out of service. The remaining ones cannot provide even basic care. Starving children need not only food but also rehabilitation, which is simply impossible under current conditions (source).

Meanwhile, the delivery of humanitarian aid is complicated. Food trucks often become targets for looting or are caught under fire. AP News reports that drivers face attacks from armed groups and desperate crowds, as well as the risk of being shot at checkpoints (source).

At the same time, Israel is considering various scenarios for ending the operation in Gaza. One of them is taking full control of Gaza City. This decision could lead to further escalation and more civilian casualties, international analysts warn (AP).

Gaza remains almost completely cut off from the outside world. Hundreds of thousands of people are in urgent need of assistance, but humanitarian supplies are limited, and international efforts to end the conflict have so far brought no results.

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