GAZA, April 24 (Xinhua) -- Under the scorching sun, residents waited in long queues for limited bread supplies outside a bakery in Gaza City, unsure whether any would remain by the time their turn came.
Among them was 35-year-old Majed Asfour, a father of five who lost his right leg in an Israeli airstrike 20 months ago. "I've been waiting for three hours for a loaf of bread, and it's still not my turn."
Asfour said he has been unable to feed his children since early morning. "My injury makes it difficult for me to stand for long periods, but I have no choice."
Nearby, 10-year-old Ibrahim Siam sat on a piece of cardboard to shield himself from the heat, saying that he had taken on the responsibility of bringing bread to his family after his father's death in the latest chapter of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that erupted on Oct. 7, 2023.
"I am the eldest of my siblings. My father was killed during the war, and I come to the bakery every day to get bread for my mother and younger siblings," he said, adding it was his fourth attempt that day to obtain bread.
Bread shortages in Gaza have worsened in recent weeks due to reduced flour and fuel supplies needed for ovens and generators, disrupting bakery operations and leaving thousands struggling to meet daily needs.
Ismail Thawabta, director of the media office in Gaza, said the territory requires around 450 tonnes of flour per day, while current deliveries average about 200 tonnes.
"This creates a severe daily shortage," Thawabta said, adding that approximately 30 bakeries are currently operating in the Gaza Strip, producing around 133,000 loaves of bread daily.
Of these, about 48,000 loaves are distributed free of charge, while 85,000 are sold at subsidized prices through 142 authorized distribution points, according to Thawabta.
Thawabta said several humanitarian organizations have reduced or halted flour support programs. The World Food Programme, for example, reduced its allocation from 300 tonnes to 200 tonnes per day.
He said that suspending or reducing these programs has increased pressure on bakeries in the enclave, which is home to some 2.4 million people.
In Deir al-Balah, central Gaza, residents experienced similar conditions. Samah Ahmed, 27, a mother of two, said she often waits long hours outside bakeries without getting bread.
"My daughter has diabetes, and she urgently needs proper nutrition to avoid serious complications," she said. "I return to my tent empty-handed many days, and my children are always waiting for me."
Abdul Nasser al-Ajrami, head of the Gaza Bakers Association, said the strip faces a 50 percent supply-demand gap due to reduced flour and fuel deliveries and the damage to bakeries during the conflict, warning that shortages could worsen food insecurity, especially since many rely on bread.
The Hamas-run Gaza media office said restrictions on goods and humanitarian aid have tightened recently.
Meanwhile, the office of the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, a body under Israel's Defense Ministry, said in a post on the social media platform X that Israel facilitates the entry of a wide variety of food, with an average of 600 aid trucks entering daily.
Amjad al-Shawa, director of the Palestinian NGO Network in Gaza, said many bakeries were destroyed during the conflict, reducing production, and added that shortages of spare parts for ovens and machinery persist due to crossing restrictions.
He said about 90 percent of the population relies on aid and warned of rising malnutrition, especially among children and pregnant women.
"Even if goods enter, many families cannot afford them due to high prices," al-Shawa said, urging increased international efforts for sustained aid entry to ease pressure on civilians. ■
