Aid deliveries to Gaza have ground to a halt after Israel closed key crossings, triggering a 100-fold surge in prices for essentials like flour and vegetables. UN agencies warn the situation could spiral into a humanitarian disaster ⚠️.
Israel shut the Kerem Shalom, Erez, and Zikim crossings Sunday, leaving thousands of tents and supplies stranded. The move aims to pressure Hamas into extending a ceasefire and releasing hostages under a U.S.-backed proposal, says Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu.
UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher called the blockade '\"alarming,\"' stressing: 'We need to get aid in and the hostages out.' Secretary-General Ant\u00f3nio Guterres urged immediate action to avert renewed fighting, while UNICEF warned of 'devastating consequences' for Gaza’s children.
With stockpiles dwindling, Gaza residents face \u2018apocalyptic\u2019 conditions: a bag of flour now costs 100x more than pre-blockade, and families scramble for basics. 'Imagine paying $200 for a loaf of bread,\"' one local told OCHA.
🔴 Why it matters: Over 2 million Gazans rely on aid for survival. The blockade risks worsening malnutrition, disease, and displacement in a region already ravaged by months of conflict.
