Despite a ceasefire intended to allow humanitarian aid into the war-ravaged Palestinian territory, many Gazans continue to struggle to secure enough food, with families relying on community kitchens to survive.
Every day, Nihaya al-Masri, a 35-year-old mother of eight, spends hours queuing at a community kitchen in Khan Yunis, southern Gaza, hoping to obtain food for her family.
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza deepened during the war that followed Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel and Israel’s subsequent military offensive in the Palestinian territory. The conflict caused widespread destruction, mass displacement and severe disruption to food supplies, healthcare and other essential services.
Although the ceasefire raised hopes of increased humanitarian access, many families continue to face shortages and depend on aid organisations for basic necessities, including food.
For al-Masri, access to the community kitchen has become essential to feeding her children. Without the meals provided by humanitarian organisations, she says her family would have little to eat.
“Without the kitchen, we will remain hungry,” she told Agence France-Presse (AFP), describing the uncertainty facing families struggling to meet their most basic needs.
The continued reliance on communal food distribution highlights the difficulties faced by displaced and vulnerable households as they attempt to recover from months of conflict, widespread destruction and disruption to essential services.
Humanitarian organisations have played a crucial role in providing meals and other assistance, but the needs of Gaza’s population remain substantial. Families with several children face particular pressure as they try to secure regular meals amid limited resources.
The persistence of hunger also raises questions about the reach and consistency of humanitarian assistance, including whether sufficient food can reach those who need it most and be distributed safely and reliably.
For al-Masri and her eight children, the daily queue is more than a search for food. It is a continuing struggle for survival, a year after the ceasefire raised hopes that conditions in Gaza would improve.
