Food supplies into Gaza not meeting nutritional needs on the ground, aid groups say

By Olivia Le Poidevin

Supplies of food into Gaza are not meeting the nutritional needs of people in the enclave, some parts of which are experiencing famine, aid groups said on Thursday.

"The situation in the Gaza Strip remains catastrophic, even two weeks after the ceasefire began," Bahaa Zaqout, Director of External Relations at the Palestinian NGO PARC, said via video link from Deir Al Balah in Gaza.

Aid groups, including Oxfam, said the delivery of aid into Gaza is facing major hurdles, with many international NGOs still restricted from getting supplies in, while commercial goods that have entered are not meeting nutritional needs on the ground.

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COGAT, the arm of the Israeli military that oversees aid flows into the Gaza Strip, did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

Zaqout cited examples of biscuits, chocolate and soda being allowed in on commercial trucks, while items such as seeds and olives remained restricted from entering.

"Unfortunately, these do not respond to the minimum nutritional values required for children, women and the most vulnerable groups," Zaqout said.

He also said that though some fruits and vegetables are getting in, prices remain high and out of reach of most people.

One kilogram of tomatoes costs around 15 shekels ($4.50), and previously used to cost one shekel.

The U.N. World Food Programme said on Tuesday that supplies into Gaza were ramping up but were still far short of its daily target of 2,000 tons because only two crossings are open, and none to the famine-hit north.

The ceasefire plan brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump envisages "full aid" being sent into Gaza.

"We expected Gaza to be flooded with aid the moment the ceasefire began, but that's not what we're seeing," said Bushra Khalili at Oxfam.

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Oxfam and 40 other aid organisations, including Medecins Sans Frontieres and the Norwegian Refugee Council, published a joint letter on Thursday raising alarm about sustained restrictions getting aid in because of ongoing registration issues.