Gaza: Fifty-three days into Israel's renewed blockade of Gaza, humanitarian groups are urgently warning of an imminent total collapse in the besieged territory. Airstrikes have resumed, and critical aid remains barred, exacerbating the dire situation for over 2.1 million Palestinians facing acute shortages of food, fuel, medicine, and clean water.

According to Anadolu Agency, the United Nations recently issued a warning that the humanitarian crisis in Gaza has reached its most critical point since hostilities began in October 2023. Since March 2, Israel has shut key crossings into the enclave, blocking essential supplies despite persistent warnings of famine and widespread suffering in the war-torn region.

Riham Jafari, ActionAid's Palestine advocacy and communications coordinator, highlighted the gravity of the situation. "There is a total collapse of the humanitarian situation," she told Anadolu. "There is a catastrophic level of food insecurity and famine, which has started to affect the people, especially pregnant women, children, elderly."

Jafari further emphasized that cutting off aid is being used as a tactic of war, violating international humanitarian law. "Starvation, aid, food are being used as a weapon of war," she said. "The dream of Gazan people is to get a piece of bread or a piece of food."

Fuel shortages have crippled community kitchens and bakeries, forcing them to distribute raw ingredients to desperate families. Jafari explained how scarcity has driven food prices beyond the reach of ordinary Palestinians, including staples like flour.

Shaina Low, communications adviser for the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) in Palestine, described the dire state of food systems. "We're hearing reports of people eating one meal a day or less," she said. Community kitchens are serving approximately a million meals per day, reaching only half of Gaza's population.

While the food crisis draws international attention, other emergencies are also gripping Gaza. From shelter to water, fuel, medicine, and hygiene supplies, the needs are endless. Jafari stated, "We cannot give a priority to one item over other items. Everything is needed."

Low detailed how hospitals are overwhelmed and dangerously under-equipped. "We're seeing hospitals in desperate need of medicine and medical supplies with reports of people undergoing surgeries without anesthesia," she said.

Jafari expressed fear of a catastrophic loss of life due to starvation and lack of medical access. "We are very afraid that more people will be lost," she said, noting the vulnerability of pregnant women and newborns.

Low warned of the rise in communicable and waterborne diseases, exacerbated by inadequate medical supplies. "As food runs out, starvation is spreading," she added.

Beyond physical needs, aid workers are alarmed by what they describe as a systematic dismantling of the humanitarian sector. Israel's blockade is preventing aid groups from performing their duties effectively. Low noted, "This isn't an accident - this is very intentional to prevent us from being able to do our jobs."

Low emphasized that available aid is not reaching those in need. Over 3,000 aid trucks are waiting to enter Gaza, held up at the borders. The Norwegian Refugee Council has 34 truckloads of supplies stuck in Egypt.

"The materials in those trucks could go to waste," Low said. "If it's food, it could spoil, or medicine. Even for things that were non-perishables, some could get damaged from sitting in hot trucks."

Aid groups are also incurring additional costs for storage and rentals while their cargo remains idle, funds that could otherwise be used to save lives.