In brief
Even after the ceasefire in Gaza, community kitchens like Anera in al-Zuwayda are struggling to provide residents with essential food products. While they are now serving more meals than before, a lack of variety and vital ingredients such as proteins and fresh vegetables remains a serious concern for the displaced population, many of whom are living in precarious conditions. As aid access improves, humanitarian organizations continue to advocate for the opening of more supply routes to address ongoing food shortages.
Garlic simmers in huge metal pots heated over open wood fires and set up in a long line. Cooks add canned tomatoes and peppers with handfuls of spices, stirring the sauce with giant spoons.
What is being prepared here is not just lunch; it is a lifeline.
American Near East Refugee Aid (Anera) opened this community kitchen in al-Zawayda in central Gaza after the ceasefire began six weeks ago. The US humanitarian organization has another kitchen in al-Mawasi in the south of the strip.
Back then, two months into an Israeli blockade, preventing the entry of all food and other goods, stocks were dwindling. Now, with more food allowed to enter, the situation has improved.
Each day, Anera feeds a hot meal to more than 20,000 people. We have moved from using 15 pots in the past to up to 120 pots in a day, targeting more than 30 internally displaced people's camps, says team leader Sami Matar. We're serving more than 4,000 families compared to just 900 families six months ago.
Access to food has been a constant concern since the start of the war in October 2023, with Israel heavily restricting supplies allowed through Gaza's crossings. This has exacerbated the dire humanitarian situation.
The menu usually includes rice, pasta, and lentils while fresh vegetables and proteins like meat are scarce. Despite receiving some supplies through humanitarian aid, many essential ingredients remain unavailable.
In the past week, the UN reported that the daily number of meals distributed in Gaza has reached 1.4 million, yet for many families, the future remains uncertain. We live off the community kitchen, the takia, says Aida Salha from Gaza City. There is bread maybe once a week or once every four days.
Aid agencies continue to press for the opening of all crossing points into Gaza to alleviate food shortages and improve conditions for those affected by the ongoing conflict.
