Gaza Bakeries Shut Down Amid Flour Shortage, Israeli Restrictions
Translated & summarized from Arab48 by baba
Ten of Gaza's 17 commercial bakeries have closed due to a flour shortage and Israeli restrictions, with the remaining seven at risk of shutting down within 48 hours. The Ministry of Social Development and the Government Media Office warned of severe humanitarian consequences, including widespread food insecurity and potential famine. These closures exacerbate an existing aid crisis, as WFP-supported bakeries only meet a quarter of the population's needs and the WFP itself faces funding shortfalls.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Ten of Gaza's 17 commercial bakeries have shut down due to a lack of flour and Israeli restrictions.
- The remaining seven bakeries in Gaza are threatened with closure within 48 hours.
- Gaza's bakeries are facing a severe flour shortage, with commercial flour not entering for over ten days.
- WFP-supported bakeries meet only 25% of Gaza's bread needs amid a broader food supply crisis.
- Officials warn of severe humanitarian consequences, including famine and starvation, due to the closures.
- The World Food Programme faces a funding gap, potentially halting aid to 500,000 Palestinians.
The bread crisis in the Gaza Strip has worsened, with 10 out of 17 commercial bakeries ceasing operations on Thursday. The remaining seven bakeries are at risk of closing within 48 hours due to a lack of flour and ongoing Israeli restrictions on food supplies. Bakeries supported by the World Food Programme (WFP) are only meeting a quarter of the population's needs.
Abdul Nasser Al-Ajrami, head of the Bakeries Association in Gaza, stated that commercial flour has not entered the Strip for over ten days, despite Israel's announcement of resuming commercial truck entries. He warned that the depletion of reserves threatens the remaining bakeries and could exacerbate the bread shortage and market instability.
Al-Ajrami explained that 21 WFP-supported bakeries produce 150 tons of bread, but this covers only 25% of Gaza's needs amid a severe shortage of food items. He noted that Israel continues to control the crossings and is not adhering to the ceasefire protocol requiring at least 600 aid and goods trucks daily.
The Ministry of Social Development in Gaza warned of serious humanitarian consequences from the bakery closures, particularly for displaced families, children, and women reliant on food aid. The ministry described the continued ban on flour and necessary supplies as a "systematic policy of starvation and using food as a weapon against unarmed civilians," asserting that Israeli restrictions threaten the food supply system for needy families.
Ismail Al-Thawabta, Director General of the Government Media Office in Gaza, reported that over 66% of Gaza's essential needs are unmet, with incoming goods covering only 37% of daily requirements. He calculated that only 33.7% of the expected 226,200 trucks have entered Gaza over 377 days since the ceasefire agreement. Al-Thawabta highlighted the deteriorating food situation, with approximately 1.4 million Palestinians facing acute food insecurity and 466 deaths, including 157 children, attributed to malnutrition and famine since the war began.
The bakery crisis coincides with a decline in food aid, following the Ministry of Social Development's warning that the WFP might halt aid to 500,000 Palestinians due to funding shortages. The WFP requires $450 million for its operations in Gaza and the West Bank from October to March 2027. The Ministry urged the UN, international community, and humanitarian organizations to pressure Israel to open crossings, ensure unrestricted entry of flour, fuel, and food, and increase relief efforts.