Food insecurity in the Gaza Strip: An urgent priority with deep roots

In the Gaza Strip, more than 95% of the population is in a state of acute food insecurity and 30% is experiencing famine, with the situation expected to worsen. The ongoing Israel-Hamas War, which commenced in October 2023, is a major contributor to this crisis. However, there are several other food-security challenges in Gaza that predate the outbreak of war.

Besides the impacts of recent conflict, new IIASA research shows that past and present governance issues, as well as a failure to effectively implement food-security policy, are significant contributors to the food crisis in Gaza.

To address the current crisis and ensure lasting food security, strategies are needed that address not only the impacts of recent conflict, but also these underlying issues.

Specifically, the research recommends:

• The lifting of restrictions on access to humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip, including food, water, energy, and medical supplies.
• Decisive action from the international community to address immediate needs and root causes of Gazan food insecurity, including documented instances of government misuse of aid.
• Global efforts to encourage the Gazan government to invest in social equity, prioritize food security, health, and other vital aspects, and increase transparency and accountability.
• A combined approach of comprehensive support for the Gazan people and firm pressure for responsible governance in the Gaza Strip.

Immediate impacts of war

Key issues

• Destruction and loss of life from attacks, airstrikes, and ground invasion.
• A blockade preventing the movement of food, water, and other essential supplies.
• Chronic food insecurity and the threat of widespread famine.Alleged corruption and violent exploitation of aid by Gazan government officials.

War is undeniably a major contributor to Gaza’s current food security crisis. The Israel-Hamas War commenced on 7 October 2023, following a large-scale attack against Israel by Hamas and its allies from the Gaza Strip. Israel responded with airstrikes, a blockade, and a ground invasion of Gaza, leading to large-scale destruction and loss of life on both sides. As of late April 2024, attempts by the international community to establish a lasting ceasefire have not been successful.

The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) Famine Review Committee (FRC) has been activated to monitor conditions in the Gaza Strip, using the IPC scale to assess indicators of food security, nutrition, and livelihoods. The scale ranges from Phase 1, where households have adequate access to food, to Phase 5, where households experience extreme lack of food and a failure to meet basic needs, despite the full employment of coping strategies. IPC investigations have found that:

• More than 2.1 million people in Gaza, 95% of the population, are experiencing acute food insecurity.
• More than 90% of the Gazan population is classified as facing “crisis”, “emergency”, or “catastrophe” conditions (IPC Phases 3, 4, or 5).
• Famine (“catastrophe”, Phase 5) has become reality for 30% of the population, with this figure expected to increase.
• Reports by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), a CGIAR Research Center, have underscored these findings, indicating concern about chronic food insecurity in the Gaza Strip and the serious threat of widespread famine.

At the same time, observer reports by the United Nations, USAID, and others have alleged exploitation by Gazan government officials of humanitarian aid intended for civilians.

Reports allege instances of officials seizing control of food aid, and even violently assaulting residents attempting to access supplies. Similar reports have been made regarding fuel and electricity supplies, and financial aid. These alleged actions have drawn condemnation from international organizations, with concerns raised about the wellbeing of the Gazan population.

The research further considers Israel’s tight control over the economy of the Palestinian territories, as a factor in the delayed development process of both the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

The analysis finds that since 2007:

• The West Bank displayed relative stability in food prices over time, and improved moderation of price fluctuations, possibly due to effective governmentled food security initiatives.
• The West Bank showed efforts to stabilize bread prices, highlighting a potential contrast in governance approaches with the Gaza Strip.
• In the Gaza Strip, prices of all staple foods, especially rice and sugar, continued to fluctuate erratically over the years.
• A closer look at bread, the main staple food in the Palestinian diet, showed that variation in bread prices was more closely linked to global wheat prices than to local security crises.
• Inconsistency in pricing in the Gaza Strip continues to be exacerbated by ongoing allegations of corruption and suppression of dissenting views by Gazan authorities, raising questions about their efficacy in putting the planned food-security strategy into action.

Conclusions

The research concludes that beyond the impact of war, past and present governance issues including failure to effectively implement food-security policy, are significant contributors to the current food-security crisis in Gaza. Future strategies therefore need to address not only the impacts of recent conflict, but also these underlying issues.

In summary, ending the crisis in the Gaza Strip and preventing imminent famine requires urgent actions related to conflict:

• An end to the blockade.
• Action from the international community to supply aid directly to civilians, preventing misuse of aid.

Additionally, long-term actions from the global community are required to support improvements in:

• Effective implementation of food security strategies.
• The development of responsible governance in Gaza, including increased transparency and accountability.
• Measures to improve the wellbeing of the Gazan population.

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge Elena Rovenskaya, Leonidas-Romanos Davranoglou, and Catriona Richards for their support in producing this brief.