People in Gaza are consuming natural plants in order to stay alive.
Every morning, they set out on a journey through the open fields to find edible plants, one of which is called cheeseweed or khubeezeh in the local language. These plants have been a traditional side dish for generations among Palestinians, but now they have become a significant source of food for those living in Gaza.
The situation of daily life in the besieged area has become extremely dire and is consistently declining due to the ongoing violence that began on October 7th with terrorist attacks led by Hamas against Israel. This has greatly impacted the Palestinian civilians, causing chaos and destruction in their lives.
Per the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), approximately 25% of households in Gaza are currently experiencing severe food insecurity or conditions similar to famine.
Citizens in the central area of Gaza, known as Deir Al-Balah, report a significant increase in the cost of cheeseweed due to its widespread harvesting. Prior to the conflict, these edible plants were widely available for anyone to gather for free, but now they must be purchased as food supplies dwindle and humanitarian aid is scarce.
You’re a young man
From being a pharmacy student to becoming a street vendor, you have transitioned into a young man.
Young Ahmed Fayyad raises his voice in the markets of Deir Al-Balah to attract attention to his goods.
Thanks to the cleverness of the local economy during war, there is produce accessible for those with means. However, relying on wild plants as a primary source of food indicates the desperate need and inadequate nutrition experienced by many in Gaza.
Just a few months ago, he was studying pharmacy at a university in Gaza. However, his current circumstances are a reflection of the many young individuals whose aspirations have been hindered by the conflict.
“Due to the escalating conflict in the southern city of Khan Yunis, Ahmed has resorted to selling cheeseweed on the streets in order to provide for his family and himself.”
Youth gather wild plants to then sell in Deir Al Balah, located in the central Gaza region.
He talked to UN News at the markets in Deir Al-Balah and shared the struggle of young individuals in the city: “Those selling cheeseweed simply aspire to earn a living and have a job.”
“There is no source of income, they have been sitting at home for five months, and they want to make money. They want to feed their kids, and they also need goods like diapers, milk, and other things. They have responsibilities. They say to themselves ‘I’m going to make a living by selling cheeseweed or anything else, even if it’s grass.”
Abu Ali was forced to leave his home in Shuja’iyya neighborhood in Gaza City. He stated that cheeseweed is the most affordable and readily accessible item in the market. Other food options are simply unaffordable. According to him, a bottle of cooking oil costs 20 shekels ($5.56), making it difficult to access good food due to its high cost.
Busy marketplace located in central Gaza, specifically in Deir Al Balah.
and running water without any form of government
A place without essential resources, like clean water, and lacking any system of governance.
The FAO, an organization dedicated to food and agriculture, reports that almost half of the land used for farming in the Gaza Strip has been demolished during the conflict and the water supply is 97 percent contaminated and cannot be consumed by humans.
“The aid coming into Gaza only meets the needs of 3% of the population,” reports from the UN Relief Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) state.
Prior to the onset of the current dispute, Gaza received a daily total of 500 trucks carrying commercial and humanitarian goods. However, in the present month, this number has significantly decreased to an average of only 98 trucks, all of which must use the Rafah and Karam Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossings in the southern region.
The United Nations has faced obstacles in providing assistance to regions north of Gaza Valley due to the threat of famine. As a result, residents have resorted to consuming animal feed in order to survive.
According to humanitarian officials working in the occupied areas of Palestine, aid convoys traveling to northern Gaza are facing gunfire and obstacles from Israeli officials.
The edible weeds known as cheeseweed that are sold in Dier Al Balah, central Gaza, have run out of supply.
Source: news.un.org
