Palestine: WFP Country Director Antoine Renard
Almost a year of war in Gaza, and the devastation continues to deepen. Millions of Palestinians have been displaced, torn from their homes, separated from their families and close ones, and stripped of their livelihoods. The scale of destruction has turned the Strip into a landscape of ruins.
Today, Palestinians in Gaza find themselves with no real refuge. With each evacuation, our partners are forced to relocate hot meal kitchens and food distribution points to new locations. As of 16 September, more than 55 evacuation orders remain in effect, covering about 86 per cent of Gaza. Despite the constraints, WFP has reached more than 540,000 people in Gaza and the West Bank in September, including 363,000 people in Gaza with reduced rations.
There's only constant fear, surrounded by threats from air, land and sea, while disease and hunger loom ever closer. Yet, how people cling to hope amid constant despair is a tragic masterclass in survival.
For many Palestinians, a ceasefire is the first step toward just staying alive, allowing them to start rebuilding and reclaiming their lives. In time, livelihoods would be re-established.
For now their neighbourhoods are reduced to rubble as people in makeshift tents struggle to keep rain at bay.
Of course, a ceasefire should be more than a momentary reprieve. For humanitarian agencies to have the leeway to offer more than just an emergency lifeline, it must be sustained.
For now, the contagion of conflict is apparent. WFP estimates that the escalation of violence and spillover effect of the war in Gaza could push at least 600,000 people into food insecurity in the West Bank compared to 352,000 people at the start of 2023,
Perhaps it's worth reminding ourselves of a profound truth: peace, once ignited, can be even more contagious. It is the only sustainable solution. As part of the humanitarian community, WFP will continue to stand with Palestinian civilians, providing critical support for as long as needed. At the same time, we continue to hope for lasting peace in Palestine, Israel and the wider region.
