Palestinians line up to get what they need in Deir al-Balah in Gaza (Anatolia)

At the Jabalia Boys School in the Jabalia refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip, Najla Abu Amsha stands with hundreds of women and children, holding a plastic bowl in her hand, waiting to receive soup made of carrots and potatoes.

Amid a long line in which Palestinians are staggering, Abu Amsha (41 years old) waits for her share of food for the day, to feed her hungry children in one of the schools that provides free meals.

This Palestinian woman is trying hard to secure a little food for her injured husband and five children, in light of the ongoing Israeli war on the Gaza Strip and the spread of famine in the northern governorates of the Strip.

Amidst the massive crowding of displaced people in the school, Abu Amsha - whose body appears weak - does not know whether she will get some food or not, as the scarcity of food and the large number of needy people make it difficult, if not impossible, to provide food for everyone.

Today may bring back memories of yesterday when she waited for a long time in vain, as the food was not enough when it was her turn.

The heart of Palestinian Abu Amsha is deeply saddened by the fact that her children have not eaten since yesterday, Wednesday, as they were forced to sleep with empty stomachs, while she stands before them helpless, unable to offer them anything to satisfy their thirst.

Obtaining a meal in Gaza has become unattainable due to the Israeli siege (Anatolia Agency)

Life is not like life

Palestinians at the Jabalia Boys School are working to provide free food to the displaced, using food supplies available in the northern markets, thanks to the support of philanthropists in the northern regions and elsewhere.

Flour, wheat, and even animal food are scarce in the markets of the northern Gaza Strip, where residents rely on a few vegetables that are often covered with layers of mold.

Due to the food shortage in the governorates of the northern Gaza Strip, it is not expected that free meals will continue to be provided at the school for the displaced during the coming days, according to Abu Amsha.

Palestinian women dream of living a life like other women in the world, so that their children eat good and healthy food, to help build their bodies in a healthy way.

Abu Amsha described the conditions of Palestinians in displacement schools in the northern Gaza Strip as “tragic,” expressing her dissatisfaction with the Arab countries that did not provide aid to the people of the northern Gaza Strip.

Abu Amsha said, "Our situation is very tragic and unexpected, as there is no rice, flour, or sugar, and the prices of baby diapers are very high."

The displaced Palestinian woman from the Beit Hanoun area added, "We are dying of hunger in the northern Gaza Strip. We cannot continue this suffering and war."

She continued, "We wait a long time in a long line to get a little food for our hungry children."

The spread of disease

Abu Amsha indicated that her family is suffering from a tragic situation, as there are sick cases and martyrs, and her children are impatiently waiting for her to prepare food.

She said, "It is not easy in the northern Gaza Strip, where disease is widespread and the water we drink is polluted."

She added sadly, "Things have reached the point where we have had to resort to eating animal food."

Due to the Israeli siege imposed on them since October 7, residents of the Gaza Strip were forced to resort to eating animal feed after the stock of wheat and flour ran out.

Since the start of its devastating war on the Strip about 5 months ago, Israel has cut off supplies of water, food, medicine, electricity and fuel to the Gaza Strip, leaving about 2.2 million Palestinians suffering catastrophic humanitarian conditions.

Israel imposes a stifling siege on Gaza City and the northern Gaza Strip, and prevents any food aid from reaching the residents of these areas, which has led to the depletion of all their food and drinkable water.

On January 13, the government media office in the Gaza Strip said, “Death threatens about 800,000 people in the Gaza and northern governorates due to the continued policy of starvation and thirst pursued by the Israeli army against them.”

Source: Al Jazeera + Anatolia