The report from WFP is based on interviews with Gaza residents conducted during and after the cease-fire that Israel and Hamas initiated in late November. It shows that the situation has worsened since then – and quickly.
During the ceasefire, 38 percent of Gaza’s households were judged to be in acute famine. After fighting resumed, that figure rose to 56 percent. The percentage of internally displaced persons who do not get enough food rose at the same time from 83 to 93 percent.
At the beginning of December, the UN estimated the number of internally displaced persons at around 1.8 million.
Anger, frustration and fear
Carl Skau, who himself recently visited the southern parts of Gaza, describes the situation on the ground as a humanitarian disaster.
– The streets are full of people, people are wandering around, There is a lot of fear and the temporary camps are completely overcrowded, he says.
Alongside the fear, there is also a lot of anger and frustration among the people who fled. This in turn leads to problems for aid work, which makes it increasingly difficult to distribute supplies in an orderly manner, Skau explains.
– It is so desperate now. You don’t know when you will get supplies or food again. Therefore, you want to make sure you bring as much as possible.
Winter and rain await
What is required to improve the situation, according to Carl Skau, is that larger volumes of supplies are allowed into Gaza. Then more open border crossings are needed, not least in the northern parts of the strip of land.
In a second step, a new humanitarian ceasefire is required so that aid can be distributed safely.
That such solutions are in place quickly is crucial, believes Skau. Not least when winter and its expected rainstorms are at the door.
– It is almost difficult to imagine what the situation will be like in these temporary tent camps if it also rains and is cold. The sanitary situation is absolutely terrible.