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Foreign food assistance

Aid Organizations Demand Immediate Ceasefire and End to Israel's Systematic Obstruction of Humanitarian Aid in Gaza

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The situation in Gaza has become catastrophic, with the entire population facing hunger and disease due to Israel's systematic obstruction of aid. New data reveals that 83% of required food aid does not make it into Gaza, resulting in people having only one meal every other day. An estimated 50,000 children are at risk of malnutrition, and 65% of required insulin and half of the required blood supply are not available. Only 1,500 hospital beds remain operational, compared to 3,500 beds in 2023, and 1.87 million people are in need of shelter. Aid trucks have drastically decreased, with an average of 69 trucks per day in August 2024, compared to 500 per working day last year.

Key Takeaways:

  • 83% of required food aid does not make it into Gaza, resulting in people having only one meal every other day.
  • An estimated 50,000 children aged between 6-59 months urgently require treatment for malnutrition by the end of the year.
  • 65% of required insulin and half of the required blood supply are not available in Gaza.
  • Only around 1,500 hospital beds in Gaza remain operational, compared to around 3,500 beds in 2023.
  • 1.87 million people are in need of shelter, with at least 60% of homes destroyed or damaged.
  • A record low average of 69 aid trucks per day entered Gaza in August 2024, compared to 500 per working day last year.
  • In August, over 1 million people did not receive any food rations in southern and central Gaza.
  • Only 17 out of 36 hospitals remain partially functional.
  • Critical infrastructure such as water networks, sanitation facilities, and bread mills have been razed to the ground.
  • Aid is systematically obstructed on a daily basis through six main ways: denial of safety, blockade, delays and denials, restrictive control of imports, destruction of public infrastructure, and displacement of civilians and humanitarian workers.
  • Aid organizations are demanding that governments secure an immediate and lasting ceasefire, implement an arms embargo, and end the export of weapons and military equipment.

Statistics:

  • 83% of required food aid does not make it into Gaza.
  • An estimated 50,000 children aged between 6-59 months require treatment for malnutrition by the end of the year.
  • 65% of required insulin and half of the required blood supply are not available in Gaza.
  • Only 1,500 hospital beds in Gaza remain operational.
  • 1.87 million people are in need of shelter, with at least 60% of homes destroyed or damaged.
  • A record low average of 69 aid trucks per day entered Gaza in August 2024.
  • Over 1 million people did not receive any food rations in southern and central Gaza in August.
  • 17 out of 36 hospitals remain partially functional.

Sources:

  • American Friends Service Committee (AFSC)
  • CARE Country Director in the West Bank and Gaza, Jolien Veldwijik
  • Amjad Al Shawa, the director of the Palestinian NGOs Network (PNGO)
  • Notes to editors A short video introducing aid obstruction, narrated by aid worker Bushra Khalidi: https://www.instagram.com/reel/C_uuyDuI17p/?igsh=amR2eTR6ejQydHhl.
  • A quote pack from people affected by aid obstruction in Gaza
  • Explanation of the methodology used to gather the data: https://www.careevaluations.org/evaluation/aid-obstruction-in-gaza/
  • Most recent humanitarian access snapshots: https://reliefweb.int/report/occupied-palestinian-territory/gaza-humanitarian-access-snapshot-5-27-august-10-september

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