'Our children are dying slowly': Gaza father searches for food
Small children, squashed at the front, are in tears. One of them holds up a plastic basin hoping for some ladles of soup. Haw pushes forward in the scrum until he receives his share.
Haw does this every day because he fears his children are starving. He sets out through the ruins of Jabalia in northern Gaza in search of food, waiting in panicked crowds for up to six hours to get barely enough to feed his family.
Some days he gets lucky and can find lentil soup. Other days he returns empty-handed.
'I have a sick daughter. I can't provide her with anything. There is no bread, there is nothing,' said Haw, 39. 'I'm here since eight in the morning, just to get one plate for six people while it is not enough for one person.'
Israel has blocked the entry of medical, food and fuel supplies into Gaza since the start of March, prompting international experts to warn of looming famine in the besieged enclave that is home to 2.3-million Palestinians.

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IOL News
6 hours ago
- IOL News
Famine's shadow over Gaza: How children are bearing the brunt of the humanitarian crisis
Palestinian children wait for a meal at a charity kitchen in the Mawasi area of Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip. Image: AFP Weakness. Fatigue. Dizziness. Muscle wasting. Weakened immune system. Persistent hunger. These are only a few of the several symptoms of fatigue. This is the reality of the hundreds of thousands of Palestinians. Over 20 months into the Israeli-Palestinian War, the Gaza Strip remains confronted with a critical risk of famine. According to UNICEF and an Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report, this risk is not just possible but increasingly likely due to expanded military operations, the inability of humanitarian agencies to access those in need, anticipated escalation of hostilities, and continued mass displacement. Months had passed since a blockade was implemented, halting humanitarian aid and commercial supplies from entering the territory, which led to depletion or imminent depletion of essential goods. The IPC report stated the entire population of Gaza is facing high levels of acute food insecurity, with half a million people (one in five) facing starvation. The IPC's report on food insecurity from 11 May to 30 September 2025 indicates that the entire population is in an Emergency situation (IPC Phase 4). Most of the population is expected to experience Crisis levels of food insecurity or worse (IPC Phase 3 or higher). This includes: 470,000 people (22%) in Catastrophe (IPC Phase 5) in Catastrophe (IPC Phase 5) Over 1 million people (54%) in Emergency (IPC Phase 4) Half a million people (24%) in Crisis (IPC Phase 3) From 1 April to 10 May 2025, 1.95 million people (93%) were classified as facing Crisis levels or worse (IPC Phase 3 or higher). This group includes 244,000 people (12%) in Catastrophe (IPC Phase 5) and 925,000 people (44%) in Emergency (IPC Phase 4). 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The IPC quantifiable criteria for declaring famine are: 20% or more of households in an area face extreme food shortages with a limited ability to cope . Acute malnutrition in children exceeds 30% . The death rate exceeds two people per 10,000 per day . Meeting these benchmarks signals the need for a "famine" declaration, which, while not triggering legal obligations, is an important political signal for international humanitarian action. According to the UN, on July 9, 2024, no fewer than 11 experts mandated by the United Nations Human Rights Council issued a "mayday call about famine in Gaza." However, despite the experts' conclusions and glaring physical evidence, competent UN entities and executive heads had not yet officially declared Level 5 (famine) by July 2025. Reasons for non-declaration Lack of data: Israel's prevention of access for journalists and some humanitarian workers means IPC analysts lack primary data collection capabilities for Gaza. Political considerations: There is a perception that political considerations, influenced by the US administration, override professional imperatives within the UN system, with fear of punitive actions like sanctions or defunding. Only immediate and sustained cessation of hostilities and the resumption of humanitarian aid delivery can prevent a descent into Famine. The UN has outlined several critical recommendations to address the humanitarian crisis: End Hostilities: An immediate, unconditional, and sustained ceasefire is essential to reduce the risk of famine and alleviate catastrophic suffering. Ensure Humanitarian Access: Unhindered and safe access for humanitarian aid must be guaranteed to deliver lifesaving, multi-sectoral assistance at scale. This includes food, healthcare, water and sanitation (WASH), essential non-food items, fuel, and cooking gas. Protect Aid Workers, Civilians, and Civilian Infrastructure: It is vital to safeguard those delivering and receiving aid, as well as to restore infrastructure that is critical for survival and assistance delivery. Multi-sectoral Interventions: Food assistance alone is insufficient; integrated interventions that encompass food, nutrition, health, WASH, and livelihoods support are crucial. Restore Commercial Supply and Local Production: Efforts should be made to restore large-scale commercial supply chains, essential services, market systems, and local production capabilities. IOL

TimesLIVE
3 days ago
- TimesLIVE
Israeli tanks kill 59 people in Gaza crowd trying to get food aid, medics say
Palestinian medics said at least 59 people were killed and 221 wounded in the incident, at least 20 of them in critical condition. Casualties were rushed into the hospital in civilian cars, rickshaws and donkey carts. It was the worst death toll in a single day since aid resumed in Gaza in May. In a statement, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said: "Earlier today, a gathering was identified adjacent to an aid distribution truck that got stuck in the area of Khan Younis, and in proximity to IDF troops operating in the area. "The IDF is aware of reports regarding a number of injured individuals from IDF fire after the crowd's approach. The details of the incident are under review. The IDF regrets any harm to uninvolved individuals and operates to minimise harm as much as possible to them while maintaining the safety of our troops." Medics said at least 14 other people were also killed by Israeli gunfire and airstrikes elsewhere in the densely populated enclave, taking Tuesday's overall death toll to at least 73. The health ministry said 397 Palestinians, among those trying to get food aid, had been killed and more than 3,000 were wounded since late May. The incident was the latest in nearly daily large-scale killings of Palestinians seeking aid in the three weeks since Israel partially lifted a total blockade on the territory it had imposed for nearly three months. Israel has been channelling much of the aid it is allowing into Gaza through a new US- and Israeli-backed group, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which operates a handful of distribution sites in areas guarded by Israeli forces. "The incident in question did not occur at a GHF site, but rather near a UN World Food Programme location," the foundation said about the incident on Tuesday. The UN rejects the GHF delivery system as inadequate, dangerous and a violation of humanitarian impartiality rules. Israel said it is needed to prevent Hamas fighters from diverting aid, which Hamas denied. Gaza authorities said hundreds of Palestinians have been killed trying to reach GHF sites. The GHF said in a press release on Monday it had distributed more than three million meals at its four distribution sites without incident. The Gaza war was triggered in October 2023 when Palestinian Hamas militants attacked Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. Israel's subsequent military assault on Gaza has killed nearly 55,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's health ministry, while displacing nearly the entire population of 2.3-million and causing a hunger crisis. Since last week, Gaza Palestinians have kept an eye on the new air war between Israel and Iran, which has long been a major supporter of Hamas. Gaza residents have circulated images of buildings in Israel wrecked by Iranian missiles, some saying they are happy to see Israelis experiencing a measure of the fear of airstrikes that they have endured for 20 months.

TimesLIVE
4 days ago
- TimesLIVE
Israel issues new evacuation orders in central Gaza as hunger worsens
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