Gaza food crisis worsens after aid truck looting

[MIDDLE EAST] Food prices in Gaza have skyrocketed following the robbery of nearly 100 aid vehicles, compounding an already acute food crisis caused by Israel and Hamas's year-long battle.

The impact of this crisis on Gaza's children has been particularly devastating. UNICEF reports that malnutrition rates among children under five have more than doubled since the conflict began. Aid workers describe seeing infants and young children with visible signs of wasting, a severe form of malnutrition that can lead to stunted growth and cognitive impairment. The long-term consequences of this nutritional crisis could affect an entire generation of Gazans, even after the immediate conflict subsides.

The theft of 98 trucks from a 109-strong convoy by armed men last weekend, the worst such incident to yet, has exacerbated food, medicine, and other relief shortages, according to Margaret Harris, a World Health Organization representative. "It's getting harder and harder to get the aid in," she remarked Tuesday.

The amount of aid entering the besieged Palestinian territory has dropped to an 11-month low, according to official Israeli data, despite a US ultimatum last month requiring more humanitarian supplies to reach Gaza's desperate population of 2.3 million people, nearly all of whom have been displaced from their homes.

The scarcity of food and essential supplies has led to the emergence of a black market economy in Gaza. Reports suggest that some individuals are exploiting the crisis by hoarding goods and selling them at exorbitant prices. This underground economy is further complicating aid distribution efforts and exacerbating inequalities within the population, as only those with financial means can access these inflated-price goods.

So far in November, Israel says it has allowed in an average of 88 trucks per day, a fraction of the 600 per day that aid agencies believe is required to provide basic necessities. Experts believe that starvation conditions may have already set in the northern third of Gaza, where Israeli forces are conducting a weeks-long offensive that has killed hundreds of civilians and displaced tens of thousands.

The price fluctuates, but before the conflict, a sack of flour cost 40 shekels (£8.40) and milk powder 30 shekels (£6.30). Prices in the center and south of the strip, where the majority of the population has left, have risen to 375 shekels (£80) and 300 shekels (£64), respectively, if supplies can be located.

The food crisis is also having a significant impact on Gaza's healthcare system. Hospitals and medical facilities, already struggling with shortages of medicines and equipment, are now facing an influx of patients suffering from malnutrition-related complications. Doctors report treating an increasing number of cases of anemia, vitamin deficiencies, and other conditions linked to poor nutrition. This additional strain on the healthcare system is compromising its ability to treat other medical emergencies and chronic conditions.

Israel denies purposely restricting supplies to Gaza or turning a blind eye to the proliferation of gangs and organized crime since the Hamas onslaught on October 7, last year, which sparked the conflict. It also accuses Hamas of diverting aid.

The Palestinian militant group rejects this, claiming that Israel has attempted to sow anarchy by methodically killing Hamas-employed police officers guarding aid convoys.

International aid organizations are calling for urgent measures to address the looting problem and ensure safe passage for humanitarian convoys. Proposals include establishing protected corridors, increasing security escorts for aid trucks, and implementing a more robust system of checks and balances in the distribution process. However, the implementation of these measures remains challenging in the volatile security environment of Gaza.

On Tuesday, allegations surfaced that, amid increasing fears of starvation, Hamas, whose military and administrative skills have been seriously harmed by 13 months of fighting, had organized a new anti-looting armed squad.

"The popular and revolutionary committees," formed earlier this month, are made up of well-equipped Hamas fighters, allied groups, and local clans, and have already carried out 15 missions in which looters were ambushed and killed, according to a Hamas official who spoke to Reuters on the condition of anonymity.

Following the hijacking of the UN convoy on Saturday, the Hamas-run interior ministry announced late on Monday that 20 people had been murdered in an attempt to recapture the goods.

In a statement, Hamas stated that thefts had "severely affected society and led to signs of famine in southern Gaza" and warned that the operation was only the beginning of a larger campaign to address the issue.

Community leaders in central Gaza reported that locals had fought back against the looters and recovered some of the stolen trucks, which were then returned to the UN World Food Programme. Witnesses claimed another firefight over the weekend, in which Hamas fighters in two cars chased individuals suspected of looting who were driving another vehicle, killing the suspects.

Shaban, an engineer from Gaza City who was moved to Deir al-Balah, told Reuters, "We observe a campaign against thieves. If the effort continues and aid flows, prices will fall since stolen aid enters the markets at a significant cost."

Since a truce crumbled after a week in November, ceasefire discussions in the Gaza war have repeatedly failed, with mediator Qatar announcing earlier this month that it would step down until Israel and Hamas demonstrated "willingness and seriousness" in the talks.

Meanwhile, chances for a truce are building in Israel's two-month conflict with the formidable Lebanese militia Hezbollah.

During a visit to Beirut on Tuesday, Biden administration envoy Amos Hochstein said an agreement was "within our grasp" following "very constructive talks" with Lebanon's parliament speaker, Nabih Berri, a Hezbollah ally who is negotiating on the group's behalf.

The proposal is thought to revolve around the departure of Hezbollah fighters and Israeli forces from the UN buffer zone that separates the two countries, which will subsequently be patrolled by thousands of more UN peacekeepers and Lebanese troops. Israel's demand for "freedom of action" in responding to Hezbollah threats remains a condition Lebanon is unlikely to accept.