"Gazan Hunger Crisis Discussed in This Week's News Roundup," or "Weekly Report Discusses the Dire Food Shortages in Gaza"
In the heart of the Middle East, the Palestinian territory of Gaza is currently facing an escalating humanitarian crisis, with widespread starvation, malnutrition, and deaths directly linked to the ongoing Israeli siege and restricted aid access.
Tawjiq Abu Jard, a resident of a displaced persons camp in western Gaza, poignantly highlights the internal conflict in the region. He shares his daily struggle, where he sees his neighbor hungry but cannot help due to his own need for help. The cost of basic food items, such as a kilo of tomatoes, which amounts to 40 dollars, is a third of his salary.
Over the past nearly three years of hostilities, malnutrition-related deaths have totaled at least 227 people, including 103 children, with five more deaths reported in the last 24 hours alone due to malnutrition and starvation, according to Gaza's Ministry of Health and UN reports. In July 2025 alone, 36 children starved to death.
Food security is critically compromised, as aid deliveries are severely limited. While in early August 2025 around 259,000 meals were delivered through humanitarian kitchens, this represents a 74% reduction compared to previous months. Over half a million Gazans are on the brink of starvation, and roughly one-third of the population goes days without food.
More than 90% of food aid is reportedly either looted or not adequately reaching those in need due to dangerous conditions at distribution points, including militarized checkpoints where casualties have occurred—1,516 deaths and more than 10,000 injuries were reported from May to early August among people trying to access food.
The blockade and siege have also devastated healthcare and shelter. Many health facilities have been destroyed, limiting treatment for malnourished children and other vulnerable populations. Shelter support has been blocked since March 2025, leaving multiple-displaced families without protection. Additionally, 96% of Gaza households face water insecurity, further exacerbating the population’s health crisis.
International humanitarian agencies and many governments have issued urgent calls for Israel to allow unrestricted, safe, and large-scale entry of food, medical supplies, fuel, and shelter materials into Gaza. They condemn the use of lethal force at aid distribution sites and emphasize the need to protect civilians and humanitarian workers. Efforts are underway to advocate for ceasefires and international stabilization missions aimed at ending the conflict and addressing humanitarian needs.
Meanwhile, in a contrasting scenario, the 'Detour N-VI' project is inspiring travelers with its 600-kilometer route that offers diverse landscapes to explore without rushing and with stops. The project, inspired by the iconic Route 66 of the United States, aims to offer travelers a diverse view of the cultural and natural heritage of forgotten towns. The creators of the 'Detour N-VI' project aim to rescue the old connection between Madrid and A Coruña, crossing eight provinces and 70 municipalities.
One such stop on the Detour N-VI route is the Valladolid town of Tiedra, where the honey production project of brothers Oscar and Samuel has been growing and gaining followers for six years. Another notable stop is Urueña in Valladolid, a medieval city and the first book village in Spain, which 'Informe Semanal' recently showcased, sharing the experiences of some tourists making the Detour N-VI route and visiting some of the most important towns.
In Gaza, Huda Emad, a Hispano-Gazan journalist, is living in Gaza and reporting on the humanitarian crisis there. She arrived in Gaza from Linares, Jaén, Spain eight years ago with her family. Despite her family's return to Spain, Huda remains in Gaza due to her commitment to reporting on the crisis.
Pedro Ferrero, from Zamora, returned to his hometown after living in Asturias and opened a tattoo studio in Santa Cristina de la Polvorosa. Aitor Zabalgogeazkoa, a medical professional, states that they only attend to the most serious cases due to lack of capacity, staff, time, and therapeutic food.
Netanyahu's plan to occupy Gaza is worsening the humanitarian crisis, with more than a third of the Gaza population only able to feed themselves once a day. Israa -Al Helou, a pregnant woman living in a refugee camp in Gaza, barely eats once every two days.
The UN is demanding urgent and massive entry of aid for Gaza, but Israel is maintaining bureaucratic and security obstacles. Fuertes Martínez, the mayor of Riego de la Vega, León, emphasizes the need to show life in these towns and keep working to find alternatives.
References:
[1] UN OCHA. (2025). Gaza: Humanitarian Crisis Deepens. [online] Available at: https://www.ochaopt.org/content/gaza-humanitarian-crisis-deepens
[2] Al Jazeera. (2025). Gaza's hunger crisis: The numbers behind the suffering. [online] Available at: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/7/2/gaza-s-hunger-crisis-the-numbers-behind-the-suffering
[3] Middle East Monitor. (2025). Gaza: 36 children starved to death in July. [online] Available at: https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20250801-gaza-36-children-starved-to-death-in-july/
[4] Amnesty International. (2025). Israel/Palestine: Escalating Crisis in Gaza. [online] Available at: https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2025/08/israelpalestine-escalating-crisis-in-gaza/
[5] Human Rights Watch. (2025). Israel/Palestine: Unlawful Attacks on Gaza Hospitals. [online] Available at: https://www.hrw.org/news/2025/08/03/israelpalestine-unlawful-attacks-gaza-hospitals
- Within the context of the Palestinian territory of Gaza, the ongoing humanitarian crisis is deeply rooted in the science of nutrition, as malnutrition-related deaths have increased significantly, particularly among children, due to the Israeli siege and restricted access to aid.
- The politics and general news surrounding the Middle East conflict have a direct impact on health and wellness within Gaza; for instance, Netanyahu's plan to occupy Gaza is exacerbating the humanitarian crisis, with more than a third of the Gaza population struggling to feed themselves daily.
- In contrast to the distressing situation in Gaza, the 'Detour N-VI' project offers a glimpse into the world of health and wellness in a different context; it's a 600-kilometer travel route showcasing Spain's cultural and natural heritage, aiming to promote tourism and revive the connection between various towns.
