OMM Newsroom
Gaza could face another famine as restrictions on goods entering the territory leave residents struggling to obtain food, with flour shortages threatening bread production, “Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor” warned on Thursday, according to Anadolu Agency.
The Geneva-based group said its teams had seen markets growing increasingly empty and food prices rising sharply. It accused Israel of “deliberately depriving” Palestinians of adequate nutrition as part of what it described as an ongoing genocide.
Israeli authorities suspended commercial goods deliveries to Gaza on Oct. 13 and announced on Oct. 19 that some imports would be allowed to resume, the group said. It added that the move brought little relief because shipments remained heavily restricted and fresh fruit and vegetables were still barred from entering.
Residents and traders face further uncertainty when crossings close on Fridays and Saturdays, with no assurance that deliveries will resume on Sundays, according to the organization. It warned that interruptions could deplete already scarce supplies and push food prices further beyond residents’ reach.
Several bakeries had recently stopped operating because they lacked flour and fuel, including two major facilities in Gaza City, the group reported.
The head of Gaza’s Bakery Owners Association warned that seven other bakeries receiving support from the “World Food Program” could cease operations within 48 hours, the organization said.
Deliveries currently allowed into Gaza cover no more than 37% of residents’ requirements, while fresh produce remains severely restricted, according to the group.
The warning followed a Monday announcement by the “World Food Program” that funding shortages had forced it to reduce food assistance, affecting approximately half a million Palestinians.
“Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor” urged Israel to lift restrictions on essential goods and called on international donors to increase food assistance and help bakeries resume operations.
