DaysofPal — The Gaza Strip is facing a growing risk of famine amid a sharp decline in humanitarian aid and reduced operations by relief organizations, a Palestinian business leader has warned.
Ali Al-Hayek, head of the Palestinian Businessmen Association, said in remarks to local media on Monday that signs of famine are becoming increasingly evident across the territory, as humanitarian conditions continue to deteriorate.
“The situation in Gaza is heading toward an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe,” Al-Hayek said, stressing that the crisis extends beyond reduced aid deliveries to include a significant drop in the entry of commercial goods through border crossings.
This has led to shortages of essential items and rising living costs at a time when residents are already facing severe economic hardship.
According to Al-Hayek, Gaza has witnessed a noticeable decline in the volume of assistance reaching civilians, alongside cutbacks in the activities of relief organizations that previously provided vital services, including food distribution programs and community kitchens.
He noted that the reduction in the operation of food kitchens and distribution centers has had a direct impact on food security, with international aid programs scaling back dramatically.
“Some initiatives have dropped from providing around one million meals per day to fewer than 200,000, depriving hundreds of thousands of people of their primary source of food,” he said.
The economic situation has further compounded the crisis, with purchasing power among Gaza residents falling to extremely low levels due to cash shortages, loss of income, and soaring unemployment rates. As a result, most families are now unable to meet their basic needs, including food, medicine, and daily essentials.
Al-Hayek added that the repercussions of the crisis extend beyond food insecurity, affecting healthcare, education, and humanitarian sectors.
Thousands of displaced families continue to live in overcrowded shelters, schools, or makeshift tents lacking even minimal living conditions.
He also highlighted that shrinking living spaces, ongoing military operations, and daily targeting have further complicated the humanitarian situation, placing additional strain on both local and international organizations operating in Gaza.
The decline in the activities of many international aid groups, some of which have been key providers of food and essential services, has left tens of thousands of families without consistent support, he warned.
At the same time, Gaza’s healthcare system is under severe pressure due to ongoing shortages of medicines, medical supplies, and equipment, raising concerns about the ability of hospitals and clinics to continue functioning.
Al-Hayek called on the international community, the United Nations, and humanitarian organizations to take urgent action to increase the flow of food, medical, and humanitarian aid into Gaza, and to ensure it reaches those in need without obstruction.
He warned that if current conditions persist, Gaza could enter an even more dangerous phase of famine and humanitarian collapse.
At the end of May, the Palestinian Cabinet also warned of alarming UN reports indicating that approximately 1.6 million Palestinians in Gaza, around 77 percent of the population, are at immediate risk of famine due to declining humanitarian funding and reduced aid deliveries.
Fears of famine have resurfaced as military measures around Gaza’s crossings have tightened, restricting the entry of humanitarian supplies and further exacerbating the crisis.
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