The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has denounced the alarming deterioration of living conditions in the Gaza Strip, where nearly all of the over two million inhabitants depend on social kitchens for sustenance.

These facilities manage to prepare around one million meals per day, falling drastically short of meeting the needs of the population, including thousands of malnourished children. The available meals—primarily rice or pasta—lack fresh vegetables or meat, worsening the already critical nutritional crisis.

According to OCHA, the situation in Gaza has worsened as the humanitarian system has collapsed entirely, with many independent aid organizations suspending operations due to the dangers posed by ongoing Israeli airstrikes. Most Gaza residents now eat only once per day, far less than the minimum nutritional requirement, due to rapidly depleting food reserves.

The World Food Programme (WFP) reports that humanitarian aid is the sole source of food for 80% of Palestinians in Gaza. OCHA has described the situation as the worst since the Israeli offensive began 18 months ago.

Data indicates a sharp rise in malnutrition among children: more than 3,600 children were hospitalized for acute malnutrition in March, compared to 2,000 in February, signaling a rapid deterioration in nutritional health.

Humanitarian organizations have condemned this situation not as a failure but as a “political choice and deliberate attack” on the ability of a population to survive. Israel has halted movement coordination with aid groups after resuming its military offensive, endangering humanitarian workers.

Since mid-March, 60 aid workers have been killed, as convoys, offices, and warehouses are subjected to direct bombing.

“When our staff, partners, convoys, offices, and warehouses are attacked, the message is clear: even lifesaving aid is not safe,” a humanitarian representative declared.

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