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Gaza -

A state of joy prevailed among the displaced people residing in Al-Shifa Hospital, west of Gaza City, after they learned of the arrival of “Tekkiya” personnel to prepare food for them. For many weeks, no food aid had reached them, as there are approximately 3,000 displaced persons in the hospital who were demolished by the Israeli occupation forces. Their homes.

Mrs. Majdiya Muheisen learned of the arrival of the hospice personnel, so she rushed to carry a large bowl that she might be able to fill with food. She lost two of her sons in the war without knowing their fate yet. She says, “One of them went to get a bottle of water to drink and did not return.” She adds to Al Jazeera Net, “We always We demand that they bring us food because we do not have enough food, and you see the starvation that we suffer from. I have a family and the children ask for food all day long.”

Like Muhaisen, hundreds of displaced people carried their utensils and gathered around the hospice personnel who began to light a fire in wood in preparation for cooking. However, many of the displaced were disappointed when they discovered that the expected meal consisted of only “vegetable soup” and lacked rice and meat. Despite this, They continued to gather, hoping to get a dish that would satisfy their families.

A rare sight

Near Muhaisen, the child Uwais Mubarak was waiting for his turn to fill a bowl he was carrying with soup consisting of pumpkin and corn. Mubarak told Al Jazeera Net that hospices rarely come to Al-Shifa Hospital at the present time, so he rushed to come. He added, “I came to take soup because flour, rice, and all food are expensive.” ", but he mentions that the bowl he filled with food is not enough for his large family members and will not satisfy them.

The smiles of the children who were able to fill their pots with food were mixed with disappointment on the faces of those who were not lucky enough to get some food, as the amount of soup that was prepared was not enough for everyone, which prompted some children to try to grab the leftover food from the bottom of the empty pots.

Some residents who spoke to Al Jazeera Net say that "the sight of hospices providing food to residents has become rare" after they were held about 3 months ago on a daily basis in most shelter centers and many regions and neighborhoods.

For several weeks, the residents of the northern Gaza Strip, where approximately 700,000 Palestinians live, have been finding it very difficult to find food as a result of the Israeli starvation policy against them. According to a statement issued by the Gaza Ministry of Health yesterday, Friday, the number of deaths due to malnutrition and dehydration has risen to 23. people, mostly children.

Children waiting for their turn to get some food from a hospice (Al Jazeera)

Food is not enough

Saeed Riyad, supervisor of the hospice, acknowledges that the food that has been prepared is not enough for the displaced, and its quality, which lacks flour, rice, and meat, does not satisfy hungry stomachs. He tells Al Jazeera Net, “We are facing difficulty in providing the basic materials needed to cook food due to their lack of availability in the markets and the high rate of food.” The prices are fantastic."

Riad and his colleagues face the challenge of stopping charitable work and cooking food, if the situation continues as it is, he says, as he and his colleagues feel embarrassed by the large numbers that gather to get food that is not enough for everyone, and he says, “We are facing a very large demand from the population, especially from children.” I have to live in this hospice due to the limited availability of food and basic materials, in addition to the process of starvation.”

Several months ago, those in charge of the hospice were able to cook large quantities of food, including rice and meat, but with the intensification of the siege and the Israeli starvation policy, they became unable to provide the basic materials necessary for cooking, which forced them to reduce their work little by little, replacing rice and meat and preparing soups. Instant vegetables.

Although the hospices are intended for those residing in shelter centers, many residents come to get some food due to their lack of food in their homes.

Shadi Genena, who supervises a charitable hospice funded by Algerian citizens, agrees with Riad regarding the difficulty of providing the basic materials needed to cook food. He told Al Jazeera Net, “The Palestinian people are suffering from hunger and great distress, and food has become almost missing from the market, especially since hunger is widespread.” Which led to the fall of a large number of martyrs as a result of hunger,” and he continued, “Any means of supporting our people is a strategic means of supporting our children in light of this pain and this hunger.”

Meals became limited to vegetable soups after containing rice and meat (Al Jazeera)

Philanthropy is 'dying'

According to Gaza Municipality spokesman Hosni Muhanna, charitable work in the northern Gaza Strip is facing a major crisis due to the lack of goods used in food parcels or cooking food, in addition to the difficulty of donors transferring funds from outside the Gaza Strip to inside it.

In an interview with Al Jazeera Net, Muhanna warned of the danger of stopping charitable work in light of the continuation of the war and its entry into its sixth month with no prospect of ending the siege, and pointed out that “the majority of the residents of the northern Gaza Strip have become equal in a state of poverty and destitution as a result of the cessation of almost all areas of work for 5 months, and the depletion of "Their savings."

He says, “Citizens were relying on aid or previous savings, and there is almost nothing left. Aid is not arriving and the situation is getting very bad.” He adds, “If the situation continues as it is, we may witness a greater deterioration of the humanitarian situation, and an increase in the number of deaths.” Due to hunger and thirst.”

The journalist residing in Gaza City, Muhammad Qariqa, also expressed his belief that charitable work is about to disappear in the northern Gaza Strip, and he told Al Jazeera Net, “Compared to the situation approximately two months ago, I can say that charitable work is dying, and what remains of charitable donations and initiatives could disappear at any moment.” .

According to Quraqi’s observations, charitable work, especially feeding food, is shrinking very clearly. After it used to be done on a daily basis in all shelter centers and streets, it now takes place at distant intervals, and relies on simple vegetable soups. He says, “Now charity is barely available in a small range.” And its supervisors have doubts about the possibility of continuing their work, as even simple soup ingredients are not available in large quantities.”

According to Qurayqi, the supervisors of the hospice were forced to set up the charity in secret and distribute it to the poorest and most needy families due to the large numbers of needy people that exceed their means. He warned of the danger of the continued decline in charitable work and the possibility of it stopping. He concluded his speech by saying, “People look to charitable institutions and initiatives as a last resort to survive.” life".

Source: Al Jazeera