Gaza famine, inflation and war devastate residents, say displaced couple

Two Palestinians who fled from Gaza City to the south of the enclave have said that they live in misery compounded by the triple crises of famine, inflation and war, Anadolu has reported.

The displaced individuals hail from the Nasrallah family. They said that they decided to move to the south under the threat of Israeli fire that reached their places of refuge and after exhausting all other means to find a safe haven.

“I moved with my family of six towards Khan Yunis in search of safety and food after leaving Gaza City under the threat of bombardment,” explained Mohammed Nasrallah. “We are forced to walk long distances daily to search for food or to change our place of displacement to escape death.”

His wife, Nadia, who fled in her prayer clothes, pointed out that the family left their home and various other places in which they had sought refuge, under the threat of Israeli shelling. “This hit us multiple times,” she added. “Moreover, we can no longer bear the hunger and the high prices, especially for children’s necessities like milk and nappies.”

She noted that a can of baby milk now costs over 90 shekels ($24.80), and nappies are scarce and cost more than 50 shekels ($13.70). “After reaching the south of Gaza, it is difficult for us to provide food; all food is very expensive.”

In recent months, local and international institutions have warned of renewed famine across Gaza, especially in the north amid a severe shortage of incoming aid due to Israeli restrictions and the intense siege imposed on the enclave.

Since 7 October last year, Israel has waged a devastating war against the Palestinians in Gaza with US support. The occupation state has killed 39,000 people and wounded at least 90,000, most of them children and women. An estimated 10,000 Palestinians remain missing, presumed dead, under the rubble of their homes destroyed by the Israelis, who have also destroyed essential civilian infrastructure and created famine conditions which have already claimed the lives of dozens of children who have been starved to death.

Tel Aviv continues the war, ignoring two UN Security Council (UNSC) resolutions to cease hostilities immediately and orders from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to take measures to prevent acts of genocide and to improve the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza.

READ: Gaza needs 15 years to clear 40m tons of war rubble, says UNRWA