Conflict news journalist documents intense scarcity situation in Gaza

In the war-torn region of Gaza, life is a daily struggle for survival. One resident, a journalist named Hassouna, faces an arduous journey in search of food, water, and news, as the humanitarian crisis deepens.

For over two years, Gaza has been under a blockade that has restricted humanitarian and commercial supplies, leading to extreme scarcities of food and clean water. The situation has become so dire that families often survive on just one meal a day, with diets lacking in nutrition. The resulting hunger crisis has caused a surge in malnutrition-related deaths, including at least 21 children under five recorded by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2025 and over 100 deaths from famine since the war began.

Approximately 95% of households in Gaza suffer from severe water shortages, receiving daily water amounts far below the minimum required for drinking, cooking, and hygiene. This further exacerbates health risks and complicates food preparation and sanitation.

Hassouna's journeys in searing heat are "very, very difficult," he says, wearing out his shoes quickly, with him wearing out a pair every month instead of every six months. His daily routine involves walking 14 to 15 kilometers to reach news sites, and he made a 25-kilometer round trip this morning.

Hassouna experiences both support and opposition from Palestinians regarding his journalism. Some Palestinians living in Gaza fear Israeli reprisals against journalists, but Hassouna expresses a desire for peace and a life without conflict for future generations.

The Israeli military campaign in Gaza has killed 59,106 Palestinians, mostly civilians, since the war began. The October 2023 attack alone resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, most of them civilians. Violence and insecurity around food distribution points add to the challenges, with hundreds killed while seeking aid. Forced displacement further confines populations to small areas, worsening access issues.

More than 200 journalists have been killed in Gaza since Hamas's October 2023 attack, according to Reporters Without Borders (RSF). The deepening hunger crisis in Gaza has sent the prices of food soaring, with a kilogram of lentils that used to cost three shekels ($0.90) now costing 80 shekels ($24). The price of rice has increased 20-fold.

More than 100 aid organizations and human rights groups have warned that "mass starvation" is spreading across the population of over two million people due to Israel's aid blockade. The current food and water access situation in Gaza is dire, with severe shortages causing widespread malnutrition and hunger-related deaths among residents like Hassouna.

Amidst this catastrophic humanitarian crisis, marked by acute malnutrition, starvation, and water scarcity, residents like Hassouna continue to endure, hoping for a peaceful future.

[1] United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) [2] World Health Organization (WHO) [3] United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) [4] Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

The humanitarian crisis in Gaza, exacerbated by Israel's blockade, has led to extreme scarcities of food and clean water, affecting the health and wellness of over two million residents.
In this war-torn region, journalists like Hassouna face difficulties in their pursuit of news, as they struggle with the lack of fitness-and-exercise opportunities, nutrition, and clean water.
The scientific community has expressed alarm over the deepening hunger crisis, with malnutrition-related deaths on the rise, including 21 children under five in 2025, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
political debates revolve around the ongoing conflicts in Gaza, with questions about human rights and the impact of the Israeli military campaign on Palestinian civilians being central issues.
Amidst this crisis, crime-and-justice incidents related to the distribution of food and aid have added to the hardships faced by residents, with hundreds reported killed while seeking aid.
To help alleviate the crisis, multiple organizations including the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) are working to improve food and water access in Gaza. CBD products are not directly mentioned in the given text.