With bakeries shutting down, families like Bilal AbuKresh’s struggle to secure daily bread, driving prices up and desperation to new heights.
Desperation Mounts in Gaza Amid Bakery Closures
Desperation Mounts in Gaza Amid Bakery Closures
Residents rush for flour as the U.N. warns of escalating hunger crisis due to aid restrictions.
Due to the ongoing conflict in Gaza, Bilal Mohammad Ramadan AbuKresh has faced unimaginable losses. After losing not just his home but also his job, wife, and seven relatives, he now confronts a dire food shortage as the United Nations recently halted operations in 25 bakeries across the region. This shutdown has left individuals like Mr. AbuKresh, 40, with no choice but to stand in long lines at remaining outlets in hopes of obtaining bread for his four children.
“The line was unimaginable, like the Day of Judgment,” he recounted, reflecting on his past struggles just to secure basic sustenance. Prior to the closures, he could rely on affordable bread, a stark contrast to the $30 he recently shelled out for a single bag of pasta.
Escalated tensions and stalled humanitarian aid have not only limited food access but also resulted in fierce competition among desperate residents for what little resources remain. Facing such odds, Mr. AbuKresh has been forced to sell his children's jewelry and scavenge through trash to afford food, making grave sacrifices in his quest to feed his family. “To secure a bag of bread for my children, I risk death a hundred times,” he lamented, capturing the stark reality many in Gaza currently endure.
“The line was unimaginable, like the Day of Judgment,” he recounted, reflecting on his past struggles just to secure basic sustenance. Prior to the closures, he could rely on affordable bread, a stark contrast to the $30 he recently shelled out for a single bag of pasta.
Escalated tensions and stalled humanitarian aid have not only limited food access but also resulted in fierce competition among desperate residents for what little resources remain. Facing such odds, Mr. AbuKresh has been forced to sell his children's jewelry and scavenge through trash to afford food, making grave sacrifices in his quest to feed his family. “To secure a bag of bread for my children, I risk death a hundred times,” he lamented, capturing the stark reality many in Gaza currently endure.
