Situation overview

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported on Wednesday, February 14, 2024, that while some aid is entering the Gaza Strip daily, the volume remains drastically insufficient to address the immense humanitarian needs. The situation is rapidly deteriorating, with warnings of widespread famine.

Recent events, including a double strike on Nasser Hospital in southern gaza on February 14, 2024, which killed at least 20 people – including four health workers and five journalists – underscore the escalating crisis.

Community Kitchens and the Struggle for Food Security

OCHA’s Olga Cherevko revisited a UN-supported community kitchen in Gaza City this week, a facility she last observed in March 2024. the kitchen had previously been forced to close during a period of total blockade but reopened ten days prior to cherevko’s recent visit.

Currently, the kitchen is providing hot meals to approximately 5,000 people daily in neighboring communities. However, OCHA emphasizes that this number is “severely insufficient” due to the limited supplies entering Gaza.

according to OCHA, the only effective way to prevent famine is to significantly increase the volume of aid reaching the enclave on a daily basis.

Famine Declared: Over Half a Million at Risk

The World Health Institution (WHO) reported on February 14, 2024, that more than half a million people across the Gaza Strip are already experiencing famine conditions. This is attributed to the destruction of food and health services, as well as critical water and sanitation infrastructure.

Famine is defined as a situation where at least 20% of the population faces extreme food insecurity, with acute malnutrition rates exceeding 30% among children under five.The current situation in Gaza meets or exceeds these thresholds in many areas.

International Response and Legal Obligations

The UN general Assembly-mandated Palestinian rights committee issued a statement on February 14, 2024, warning that the famine is projected to spread rapidly if Israel does not allow increased food aid access.

The committee characterized the crisis as a “catastrophic man-made disaster” resulting from two years of near-total Israeli destruction and blockade of Gaza, coupled with ongoing military operations that have decimated civilian infrastructure, including food production capabilities.

The committee asserts that the situation constitutes a “grave breach of international law” and calls on states to fulfill their legal obligations to bring a swift end to the catastrophe. International law requires states to respect the principles of proportionality and distinction in armed conflict, and to ensure access to humanitarian aid for civilians in need.

Background: The Gaza Blockade

The blockade of the Gaza Strip, imposed by Israel and Egypt in 2007 following Hamas’s takeover of the territory, has severely restricted the movement of people and goods in and out of Gaza. Critics argue that the blockade constitutes collective punishment of the Gazan population, while Israel maintains it is necessary for security reasons.

Prior to the current conflict, the blockade had already led to notable economic hardship and humanitarian challenges in Gaza, including high unemployment rates, limited access to essential services, and food insecurity.

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