Gaza Children Still Face Hunger as New Food Crisis Looms

As Sahar Al-Bardini prepared breakfast for her three children in a tent at the Al-Zawaida camp in central Gaza, she watched them eat while worrying about their next meal. The 35-year-old woman is the sole breadwinner of her family after her husband was killed in an Israeli shelling in northern Gaza three years ago.

Like many families in Gaza, they are struggling with soaring food prices, largely due to Israel's prolonged blockade, and there are fears that people could slip back into famine. During last year's famine, Sahar's family, especially Omar and Sama, suffered severe food and nutrient shortages. Eggs and vegetables were hard to find in the market, and when they were available, prices were unaffordable.

Although the family now eats more regularly, they still have only one meal a day. Omar, 6, and Sama, 4, are still bearing the consequences of months of hunger from August to December 2025. "Omar and Sama became very weak and lost a lot of weight during the famine. Even when food became more available, it took them about six months to gradually regain their health and weight," Sahar told Al Jazeera. "My biggest fear is that my children will become weak again. I want to see them healthy, but the food they need is not easy for me to provide every day."

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warned last week that Gaza is facing a severe food emergency that could develop into a new famine. Justin Brady, head of OCHA in Palestine, said 67% of Gaza's population is food insecure. More than 200,000 people, about 10% of Gaza's population, are living in conditions that often precede an official famine declaration under the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification.

In the area where Sahar lives, community kitchens have become the main food source for many families. The meals they serve, mostly rice and other basic ingredients, rarely include meat, and are only enough to stave off starvation, but children still lack essential nutrients and protein for development. "The meals only fill the stomach, but they don't contain enough of what a child's body needs to nourish and regain strength," Sahar said. "Children need a more diverse diet – eggs, vegetables, fruits, meat, and other things. I try to provide what I can, but my ability is limited."

With very little money, Sahar tries to make the most of food vouchers or assistance she receives, but it is never enough. That means prioritizing the family's most urgent needs, starting with food, then clothing, medicine, and other basic necessities for the young children. "When I receive food vouchers, I try to make the most of them. Everything is expensive, and I alone bear the responsibility of three children," she said.

Shimaa, 25, could not find enough milk for her 2-year-old daughter Selina during the recent famine. She was forced to find anything else to fill her child's stomach. "I tried to feed my daughter whatever I had. Many times, I gave her lentils instead of milk because I didn't have milk for her," she told Al Jazeera. "I work day and night to be able to feed her and provide everything she needs – everything I do is just to see her healthier." Despite this, her family still struggles to afford enough food, and Selina remains weak and severely malnourished. "Even when the famine eased, its effects haven't disappeared for my daughter. I worry about her and am trying to do everything I can to help her get better."

Nutrition expert Ghada Jibril said the current food crisis has forced parents to rely on rice and lentils to feed their young children. Although they contain some nutrients, this creates gaps in children's diets, especially for those who experienced hunger during the famine. "A child who has experienced severe malnutrition needs a period of regular nutrition and follow-up care to regain weight and continue healthy growth," Jibril said. "Ending acute hunger does not mean the effects of malnutrition disappear immediately. Children need a diverse diet, not just food to fill their stomachs – protein, iron, vitamins, and minerals are essential for growth, brain development, and a healthy immune system. Recovery from malnutrition takes time, the right food, and follow-up care."