Children of Gaza Face Dire Hunger and Despair Amid Conflict

The humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip has reached alarming levels, with children suffering from extreme hunger, despair, and exhaustion. Twelve-year-old Mohamed al Darbi has become a symbol of this crisis after a video of him eating sand went viral. The footage, which circulated globally, reveals the dire conditions in which many families live.

At his home in western Gaza, Mohamed’s mother prepares flatbreads on an improvised stove. “We bake bread and eat it with spices. We have nothing else,” she explains. Despite the scarcity, today they have flour for their bread.

Dire Conditions and Limited Aid

Approximately one month ago, Mohamed returned empty-handed from a food distribution center, having faced theft during the process. He reported, “I received some flour, but it was taken from me. I cried a lot, because we had neither flour nor food.” This heartbreaking reality is exacerbated by Mohamed’s health struggles; he has undergone surgery to remove part of his lung and now faces a lack of available food sources, with prices soaring. A kilogram of tomatoes, for instance, costs around €25 (approximately $27).

The distribution of humanitarian aid in Gaza remains inadequate. Aid that arrives is often poorly coordinated, with reports of armed family clans taking control of trucks carrying supplies. The Gaza Foundation, backed by both Israel and the United States, distributes aid packages only in the southern and central regions of the territory, and distribution points operate sporadically. Eyewitness accounts indicate that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) frequently fire at individuals seeking assistance, though military officials do not typically respond to these allegations.

Daily Struggle for Survival

In the northern part of Gaza, where Mohamed resides, smaller local organizations provide limited food distribution points. For Mohamed, the quest for food and clean water defines his daily life. In an interview with a team of German journalists based in Tel Aviv, he described his routine: “First, I see if the community kitchen is open. When I wake up, I fetch water from the cistern. Then I go with a pot to the community kitchen. Sometimes I bring back food, sometimes not. Then I play with my friends, rest, and sleep. Tomorrow, it starts all over again.”

His father, Munzir al Darbi, is unable to work due to a broken leg, which further complicates the family’s situation. He expresses his wishes for his son, saying, “I want him to be happy in life, for the war to end, and for children to return to school.”

In the midst of uncertainty, many in Gaza hope for a ceasefire, yet there are deep fears that this may not signal the end of conflict. Mohamed maintains his hope: “I would be very happy because then I could get food from the community kitchen and water. I could play and go wherever I want without fearing for my life.”

He dreams of a future where he can visit a doctor for his medical needs, obtain necessary medication, and simply eat and drink without the constant threat of violence.