Humanitarian food kitchens in Gaza continue to operate, with American Near East Refugee Aid (Anera) managing a network of over 35 kitchens that provide approximately 210,000 hot meals daily. These operations include facilities in al-Zawayda, central Gaza, established six weeks following the recent ceasefire, and al-Mawasi in the south.
Anera reports a significant increase in its operational scale, expanding from 15 cooking pots to 120 pots daily to serve over 30 internally displaced people's camps. The organization now provides meals to more than 4,000 families, a substantial increase from 900 families six months prior.
Food access has been a consistent concern since October 2023, with restrictions on supplies entering Gaza. Famine was confirmed in Gaza City in August and is projected to extend to other areas. The United Nations continues to advocate for increased aid access. Since the ceasefire, Israel has allowed hundreds of aid lorries into Gaza daily.
Despite increased aid, Anera's kitchens, which receive food supplies from partner World Central Kitchen, face limitations in diversifying diets. Sami Matar, a team leader at Anera, stated that meal options are largely confined to rice, pasta, and lentils, supplemented with canned vegetables. Essential proteins such as meat and chicken are not permitted for humanitarian aid distribution, making it difficult to enhance nutritional value. Fresh meat and poultry are available through commercial sellers but are cost-prohibitive for aid organizations. Anera has provided a meat-inclusive meal only once since the ceasefire, using tinned products.
Additionally, Anera's operations are affected by a shortage of essential cooking equipment, including utensils, packaging materials, and gas canisters, necessitating the use of open wood fires. Transportation for meal distribution has shifted from horses and carts to a small truck following the renewed availability of fuel.
The United Nations reported that the daily number of meals distributed across Gaza by various organizations reached 1.4 million in the past week, an increase from under one million meals a month prior. Gaza's total population exceeds two million. Anera targets vetted recipients in tent camps, many of whom are displaced from northern Gaza, have lost homes, and lack financial resources. Aida Salha, a displaced mother of six, commented on the reliance on community kitchens for food, water, and infrequent bread, stating that daily circumstances had not changed since the ceasefire, though the cessation of hostilities was welcomed.
Aid agencies are advocating for the opening of all five crossing points into Gaza, with only three currently operational. They also seek the easing of restrictions on established humanitarian organizations experiencing Israeli registration issues, which impact their ability to bring in supplies.
The UN's World Food Programme (WFP) indicates that a quarter of households in Gaza consume only one meal daily. While local market prices for basic items like vegetables, sunflower oil, and flour have decreased, they remain significantly higher than pre-war levels. Surveys reveal that two-thirds of households encounter difficulties purchasing food, primarily due to insufficient cash. Abdul Karim Abdul Hadi, a father of seven from Jabalia, reported significant personal losses and financial depletion, relying on Anera for food.