RAMALLAH/GAZA, July 13 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian Minister of Social Development Samah Hamad warned on Monday of the complete collapse of the food and social safety net in the Gaza Strip due to Israel's tight restrictions on imports and exports.
In remarks to the official Voice of Palestine radio station, Hamad said the coastal enclave, home to more than two million people, faces the highest basic food prices in the region compared to neighboring countries.
She said relief kitchens have almost ceased operations for about a month as stocks of vegetables, chicken, and meat ran out, leaving prices prohibitively high for local families.
The minister said the most vulnerable groups, including the elderly, pregnant and lactating women, and children, are living in a state of genuine and prolonged famine that has now entered its third year since the outbreak of the Gaza war.
Separately, Gaza's agriculture authorities said in a statement the Israeli war has sharply cut crop output, severely undermining the strip's ability to feed its population. ■
