NEW DELHI: In the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza, a man named Abu Gibril was forced to slaughter two of his horses to provide food for his family. Gibril, speaking to AFP, explained that they had no other choice but to resort to such extreme measures due to the dire circumstances they faced. He emphasized that hunger was a grave issue plaguing their community.
Jabalia, once the largest camp in the Palestinian territories, had already been facing challenges such as contaminated water, power cuts, overcrowding, and high poverty rates.The camp, established in 1948 and covering just 1.4 square kilometers, was home to over 100,000 people. Unemployment was rampant, exacerbating the prevalent poverty.
The ongoing war in the region, which began after Hamas fighters launched an attack on southern Israel, has further worsened the situation. The conflict has claimed the lives of approximately 1,160 individuals according to Israeli figures. Gibril, along with his family, sought refuge in Jabalia after fleeing their home in nearby Beit Hanun when the war erupted. They now reside in a tent near a former UN-run school.
Due to the bombing and the looting of aid trucks, food scarcity has become a pressing concern in the camp. Aid agencies are unable to reach the area, leaving the residents with dwindling supplies. The World Food Programme has described the desperation in the camp as unprecedented, while the United Nations has warned that 2.2 million people are on the brink of famine.
The dire conditions have already resulted in tragic consequences. The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza reported the death of a two-month-old baby from malnutrition in a hospital in Gaza City, located seven kilometers away from Jabalia. The overall death toll in Gaza since the beginning of the war stands at a staggering 29,606 individuals, as reported by the health ministry on Saturday.
Within the camp, children eagerly wait with plastic containers and battered cooking pots in hand, hoping to receive whatever meager amount of food is available. However, as supplies dwindle, the costs soar. For instance, the price of a kilo of rice has skyrocketed from seven shekels to 55 shekels, causing frustration among the residents. Concerns are particularly high for young children who are suffering from acute malnutrition. UNICEF has warned that the lack of food, increasing malnutrition, and disease could lead to a devastating increase in child deaths in Gaza.
In their desperation, the residents have resorted to scavenging for scraps of rotten corn, consuming animal fodder unfit for human consumption, and even eating leaves to try to alleviate their hunger. With no food, no wheat, and no drinking water, many have been left with no option but to beg their neighbors for money. The situation has become dire, and the frustration is palpable.
Tempers are flaring in Jabalia due to the severe food shortage and its consequences. A spontaneous protest took place, with dozens of people participating. Children held up signs expressing their anguish, with one reading, ‘We didn’t die from air strikes, but we are dying from hunger.’ Another sign warned of the devastating effects of famine, while the protesters chanted slogans against starvation, genocide, and the blockade.
In Beit Hanun, Gibril had used his two horses to cultivate a piece of land. However, the conflict destroyed both his land and his house, leaving him with nothing. In secret, he made the radical decision to slaughter the horses and cooked the meat with rice, unknowingly serving it to his family and neighbors. Despite the necessity of his actions, Gibril remains cautious about revealing the truth, as he fears their reaction. ‘No one knows they were, in fact, eating horse meat.’
Israeli strikes kill dozens in Gaza as truce talks begin
Dozens of Palestinians have been killed in the latest Israeli strikes in Gaza, while truce talks are underway in Paris. The United Nations aid body for Palestinians has highlighted the dire situation in Gaza, with civilians in desperate need of food. Meanwhile, the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza on Saturday said that at least 29,606 people have been killed in the Palestinian territory during the war between militants and Israel. Amid the ongoing war with Israel, Palestinians are desperately trying to survive in the southern Gaza town of Rafah. However, the town is likely to be Israel’s next focus in the war.
Earlier on Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu revealed his latest proposal for the future of the Gaza Strip. Under this plan, Israel would maintain military control over the region while allowing the Palestinians to administer civilian affairs. Netanyahu’s blueprint comes after almost 20 weeks of war in Gaza.
However, the United States, a key ally of Israel, expressed its displeasure with the plan. The Palestinian Authority and Hamas also rejected it. The US National Security Council emphasized the importance of Palestinian representation and stated that they do not support the reduction of Gaza’s size or the displacement of Palestinians. Additionally, they do not want to see Gaza under the rule of Hamas.
(with agencies inputs)
Jabalia, once the largest camp in the Palestinian territories, had already been facing challenges such as contaminated water, power cuts, overcrowding, and high poverty rates.The camp, established in 1948 and covering just 1.4 square kilometers, was home to over 100,000 people. Unemployment was rampant, exacerbating the prevalent poverty.
The ongoing war in the region, which began after Hamas fighters launched an attack on southern Israel, has further worsened the situation. The conflict has claimed the lives of approximately 1,160 individuals according to Israeli figures. Gibril, along with his family, sought refuge in Jabalia after fleeing their home in nearby Beit Hanun when the war erupted. They now reside in a tent near a former UN-run school.
Due to the bombing and the looting of aid trucks, food scarcity has become a pressing concern in the camp. Aid agencies are unable to reach the area, leaving the residents with dwindling supplies. The World Food Programme has described the desperation in the camp as unprecedented, while the United Nations has warned that 2.2 million people are on the brink of famine.
The dire conditions have already resulted in tragic consequences. The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza reported the death of a two-month-old baby from malnutrition in a hospital in Gaza City, located seven kilometers away from Jabalia. The overall death toll in Gaza since the beginning of the war stands at a staggering 29,606 individuals, as reported by the health ministry on Saturday.
Within the camp, children eagerly wait with plastic containers and battered cooking pots in hand, hoping to receive whatever meager amount of food is available. However, as supplies dwindle, the costs soar. For instance, the price of a kilo of rice has skyrocketed from seven shekels to 55 shekels, causing frustration among the residents. Concerns are particularly high for young children who are suffering from acute malnutrition. UNICEF has warned that the lack of food, increasing malnutrition, and disease could lead to a devastating increase in child deaths in Gaza.
In their desperation, the residents have resorted to scavenging for scraps of rotten corn, consuming animal fodder unfit for human consumption, and even eating leaves to try to alleviate their hunger. With no food, no wheat, and no drinking water, many have been left with no option but to beg their neighbors for money. The situation has become dire, and the frustration is palpable.
Tempers are flaring in Jabalia due to the severe food shortage and its consequences. A spontaneous protest took place, with dozens of people participating. Children held up signs expressing their anguish, with one reading, ‘We didn’t die from air strikes, but we are dying from hunger.’ Another sign warned of the devastating effects of famine, while the protesters chanted slogans against starvation, genocide, and the blockade.
In Beit Hanun, Gibril had used his two horses to cultivate a piece of land. However, the conflict destroyed both his land and his house, leaving him with nothing. In secret, he made the radical decision to slaughter the horses and cooked the meat with rice, unknowingly serving it to his family and neighbors. Despite the necessity of his actions, Gibril remains cautious about revealing the truth, as he fears their reaction. ‘No one knows they were, in fact, eating horse meat.’
Israeli strikes kill dozens in Gaza as truce talks begin
Dozens of Palestinians have been killed in the latest Israeli strikes in Gaza, while truce talks are underway in Paris. The United Nations aid body for Palestinians has highlighted the dire situation in Gaza, with civilians in desperate need of food. Meanwhile, the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza on Saturday said that at least 29,606 people have been killed in the Palestinian territory during the war between militants and Israel. Amid the ongoing war with Israel, Palestinians are desperately trying to survive in the southern Gaza town of Rafah. However, the town is likely to be Israel’s next focus in the war.
Earlier on Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu revealed his latest proposal for the future of the Gaza Strip. Under this plan, Israel would maintain military control over the region while allowing the Palestinians to administer civilian affairs. Netanyahu’s blueprint comes after almost 20 weeks of war in Gaza.
However, the United States, a key ally of Israel, expressed its displeasure with the plan. The Palestinian Authority and Hamas also rejected it. The US National Security Council emphasized the importance of Palestinian representation and stated that they do not support the reduction of Gaza’s size or the displacement of Palestinians. Additionally, they do not want to see Gaza under the rule of Hamas.
(with agencies inputs)