HUMANITARIAN AID IN GAZA: Action Against Hunger warns of the risks of the suspension of humanitarian aid in Gaza: ‘Exorbitant prices and lack of fuel for the population’.

• The suspension of entry for humanitarian aid into Gaza threatens to reverse the progress that had been made, endangering the lives of thousands of Palestinian men and women in Gaza, as well as the work of humanitarian organizations.
• Since the beginning of the ceasefire in Gaza, an average of more than 300 trucks per day were entering through various border points, still far from what should be entering based on the current needs of the population, and far from what was agreed upon in the ceasefire.
• The agreement had allowed the entry of more fuel, essential for the functioning of healthcare, water, and sanitation infrastructure, and for the movement of humanitarian personnel to deliver aid to all areas of Gaza.
• Action Against Hunger calls on the international community to support the resumption of entry for humanitarian aid into Gaza and highlights the importance of a lasting ceasefire that allows for the continued entry of aid, the reconstruction of the Strip, and the return of the hostages.

The ceasefire in Gaza since January 2025 has allowed for significant humanitarian progress. However, the recent decision to suspend the entry of humanitarian aid, announced on March 2, 2025, poses serious challenges to maintaining and continuing this progress.

Since the beginning of the ceasefire, the humanitarian situation in Gaza had shown signs of improvement. Following the agreement, the entry of humanitarian aid, although still limited, had increased. "Until this Sunday, the agreement in Gaza had facilitated more entry of products," explains Natalia Anguera, Head of Operations in the Middle East for Action Against Hunger. "For example, more food had entered, and this allowed us, before Sunday, to carry out more adequate interventions and increase aid where we could not access before. At Action Against Hunger, we had planned to introduce much-needed food aid next week in Gaza to support a community kitchen in Gaza City, which was going to assist more than 4,000 people, but the current restriction prevents us from doing so."

Before the entry of humanitarian aid was paralyzed this past Sunday, an average of more than 300 trucks per day were entering from the ceasefire in Gaza, still far from what should be entering based on the current needs of the population, and far from what was agreed upon in the ceasefire. “The situation has been getting worse. Fifteen months of displacement and conflict have increased the needs, causing the population's dependence on humanitarian aid. The entry of humanitarian aid should be much higher to try to compensate for everything that has been lost so far,” explains Natalia Anguera.

The ceasefire had allowed the entry of more fuel, essential for the functioning of healthcare, water, and sanitation infrastructure, and for the movement of humanitarian personnel to deliver aid to previously isolated areas of Gaza. “Now we could put a generator in place so that, for example, a well in Gaza City would work. These are types of interventions that could not be done before,” explains a worker from Action Against Hunger in Gaza. He adds: “Before, you couldn’t reach the communities in need because there was no petrol, and your access was limited by the amount of petrol you could put in the car or the tanker truck.”

Consequences of the suspension of the entry of humanitarian aid

However, the suspension of aid threatens to reverse these advances, and not only once again puts the lives of thousands of people at risk, but also enormously hinders the work of humanitarian organizations in the region. “It’s going to be very, very hard,” explains a worker from Action Against Hunger in Gaza. He continues: “Although at Action Against Hunger we had already considered this possible scenario, it is going to be a difficult task to have to re-adapt our plans and our supply work based on this new situation, which is going to cause changes in needs and priorities.”

Prices, moreover, had been reduced, although not to levels prior to the start of the conflict in October 2023. “Since the suspension of the entry of humanitarian aid, we are seeing a significant increase in the prices of products in the local market,” explains the Action Against Hunger worker in Gaza. “We must bear in mind that most people do not have jobs, so they do not have a regular income. Purchasing power remains very limited. At Action Against Hunger, we are carrying out cash assistance programs, which were much more efficient at a time when prices had fallen a little,” he explains.

"This scenario is very difficult for our Palestinian colleagues in Gaza, because they can't take it anymore, they can't visualize it and they tell you that they are not going to be able to move again."

Humanitarian needs remain enormous. “If during the conflict there was a need for water, food, and shelter, that is still needed today,” explains Natalia Anguera. The Action Against Hunger worker gives the sanitation situation in the north as an example: “All that population that was previously crowded in the south is now crowded again, only, in the north, where there are almost no buildings left standing. The population has to crowd back into camps: there is no space and no infrastructure to contain exposure to diseases. A few days ago it rained a lot, which caused the infrastructures not to be able to absorb the water, causing stagnant water and wastewater to flourish. Exposure to disease and pollution continues to be one of the very important problems to address.”

Natalia Anguera explains that "at Action Against Hunger, we continue to distribute water, distribute tents, hygiene kits... All of that continues to be an absolutely priority need," she concludes.