Gaza is starving: Our team grapples with an escalating hunger crisis

For more than two months, vital aid has been blocked from entering Gaza. Now, a new report shows the food system has collapsed, pushing the entire population to the brink of famine.

The hunger crisis is affecting more than 2 million civilians and has reached horrific extremes—925,000 people are nearing starvation. Families are in pure survival mode—hungry, exhausted, and losing hope that an end to this conflict is possible.

Humanitarian operations have all but ground to a halt. Without immediate action to reopen crossings to reestablish access to food, fuel, healthcare, and medicine, the consequences for 2.3 million people in Gaza will be catastrophic.

Our team* in Gaza are grappling with the devastation of this crisis every day. They have shared their experiences struggling through the aid blockade and the realities of deepening hunger in Gaza.

*For the safety and security of our team, their image and likeness are not shown in the following photographs and videos, and all names have been changed.

Dying of hunger

“People are confused, anxious, and exhausted. They are literally dying of hunger. At this point, they would accept anything just to survive,” said Areej. “People are fainting in the streets. They look like skin and bones, pale and dizzy. If you saw them, you would break down and cry.”

“The only thing keeping people afloat is each other. They divide what little food they have, not to feel full, but simply to put something in their stomachs. I do not even know how we are still alive. And if we, who still have some form of income, can barely manage, imagine those who have nothing. Our salaries no longer cover anything. Prices are unimaginably high.”