Washington, DC., 12 May 2025 ——
Since the re-imposition of the Israeli blockade in March 2025, Gaza’s humanitarian crisis has reached catastrophic levels, with over two million residents enduring severe deprivation. Despite numerous aid trucks waiting at the Rafah crossing and additional supplies ready in neighboring countries, the blockade has halted all humanitarian aid, including food, medicine, and fuel, leading to widespread starvation, disease, and infrastructure collapse.
The World Food Programme (WFP) reported that by late April, it had exhausted its remaining food supplies, leaving community kitchens and bakeries without resources to feed the population. Consequently, many Gazans are subsisting on wild plants, turtles, and other makeshift sources of nutrition. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has warned that the situation is rapidly deteriorating, with famine looming over the region.
Food prices have surged by up to 1,400%, rendering basic sustenance unaffordable for most families. The United Nations reports that over 2 million people are experiencing severe food shortages, with flour prices soaring to $500 for a 25 kg sack. Many community kitchens have been forced to close, and nearly half of Gaza’s 200 nutrition centers are no longer operational.
WCK Suspends Operations in Gaza
World Central Kitchen (WCK), the US-based humanitarian organization founded by chef José Andrés, announced the suspension of its operations in Gaza due to the severe depletion of food and cooking supplies, leaving a significant gap in the provision of daily meals to the population.
Before the suspension, WCK had been a vital source of aid in Gaza, delivering over 130 million meals and 26 million loaves of bread over 18 months. The organization’s operations accounted for a substantial portion of international non-governmental aid in the region. Approximately 400,000 to 500,000 free meals per day have been lost, significantly worsening the hunger crisis among Gaza’s 2.3 million residents.
Infrastructure and Environmental Collapse
Health conditions are deteriorating rapidly. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) reported that approximately 66,000 children in Gaza are suffering from severe malnutrition, with many requiring urgent medical intervention. Meanwhile, hospitals are operating at minimal capacity, with only 17 out of 36 facilities partially functional, and critical shortages of medical supplies and fuel.
The blockade has led to the destruction of essential infrastructure. Over 80% of Gaza’s agricultural land has been rendered unusable due to military operations, and more than 1,000 fishing boats have been destroyed, and crippling local food production. Additionally, the lack of fuel has halted water desalination plants, leading to a 92% reduction in water availability compared to pre-conflict levels.
International Response
As the situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate, international humanitarian organizations have condemned Israel’s actions as violations of international law, urging the global community to take immediate action to alleviate the crisis and its devastating effects on civilian populations. Simply put, starving people to death is immoral, it is illegal, and it is just wrong. The entire world is watching Israel starve Gazans to death, and most of us are horrified. Aid organizations call for an immediate ceasefire, an arms embargo, and an end to Israel’s systematic obstruction of aid from reaching Gaza.
The United Nations and various aid groups have rejected Israel’s proposals for a new aid distribution mechanism that would place control under Israeli oversight, viewing it as a means to exert military control over essential goods. Notably, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has announced it will not participate in the proposed aid mechanism in its current form, citing concerns over its effectiveness and the need for an independent and impartial aid distribution system.
As the situation continues to unfold, the need for coordinated international efforts to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza has never been more urgent. The suspension of operations by organizations highlights the critical importance of ensuring unimpeded access to aid and resources for those in need. Without immediate and sustained international intervention, the humanitarian crisis is poised to escalate further, with dire consequences for the people of Gaza.
Photo Credit: From the air to the ground, the EU humanitarian efforts for Gaza by EU Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid. Licensed under CC BY NC ND 2.0
Lara Kajs is the founder and executive director of The Genocide Report, an NGO nonprofit organization in Washington, DC. She is the author of Assad’s Syria, and Stories from Yemen: A Diary from the Field, available in e-book, paperback, and hardcover at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Apple Books, and independent bookstores worldwide. Distributed by Ingram. Ms. Kajs frequently speaks about atrocity crimes, forced displacement, state terrorism, and International Humanitarian Law (IHL). Follow and connect with Lara Kajs on Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn, and Bluesky.