A shortage of flour and the closure of a central bakery in central Gaza are further exacerbating the food crisis. Palestinians struggle every day to secure food for their families to survive. Among them is refugee Umm Sandi, who tells Associated Press TV: “I first went to the Zadna bakery and there was no bread, then I came here and they told me there was no flour. Who among us is able to buy a bag of flour for 400 shekels ($107)?”

The situation in the Gaza Strip is very bad, says the young Nora Muhana: “There are no goods. And if there are, there is no money. With the lack of bread everything becomes more difficult. I wait in line outside the bakery for five or six hours and in the end I don’t even get a crumb for my children.”

Allow more humanitarian aid

Dozens of people queue in Deir Al Baha at a charity luncheon to get a lentil soup and some bread. According to aid organizations, the distribution of food aid has been hampered since Israel refused to comply with a US request to allow more humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.

“Goods are expensive and we are completely dependent on aid organizations,” says Othman Dremli: “Without handouts and food distribution, we cannot feed our children. All food is very expensive and the ovens are closed. I don’t know what we can do in the present situation.”

Refat Abet states that the money he has is no longer enough to buy food: “We cannot afford these prices. A kilo of tomatoes costs 50 shekels (about $13) and onions cost 43 shekels ($11.50). Where can I get money? I am a simple worker. I do not work for the Palestinian Authority or the UN. To beg? If there was no God, my children and I would have starved.”

APTN, dpa