A bowl of dal worth more than life, tears in eyes, children roaming with empty hands... this is Gaza

International News: Pictures don't lie. And the cry in this picture of Jabalia in Gaza is neither coming out of the tongue nor bound in words, it is just seeping out of the eyes. Faces covered with dust, foreheads soaked with sweat and utensils held in trembling hands. Some have a steel plate, some a broken bucket, some a plastic bowl, everyone's aim is the same: to eat something... just once.

This picture is a living testimony to the growing humanitarian tragedy in Gaza. People here are not dying of hunger but are slowly 'dying'. Gaza Civil Defense spokesman Mahmoud Basal says, "This is the 'slow poison' of death.

Children jostling in the crowd for a bowl of daal The

Children seen in the picture may be young in age, but the experience of hunger is recorded on their faces which may not leave them for many births. They stand in line for hours for a bowl of daal, yet many times they have to return empty-handed. Mothers are carrying utensils with their children in their arms – many of them themselves do not know when they last ate food.

Although Israel has recently eased the overall restrictions imposed on Gaza, Mahmoud Basal says that "most people have not been able to get even a bag of flour till now." According to an estimate, 1000 relief trucks are needed daily to meet the needs of Gaza, whereas till now only 300 trucks on average have reached.

Time is Extremely Delicate

Due to malnutrition, the condition of newborns and premature babies in Gaza is the worst. They are not getting milk or essential nutrients. In areas like Jabalia, community kitchens have become the last hope for people. However, these kitchens lack sufficient supplies and resources. Some volunteers are managing to cook simple meals like boiled lentils and bread to at least save lives. But the demand for these kitchens is thousands of times greater, while resources remain limited.

Is the World Listening?

Several countries, including India, are talking about sending humanitarian aid, but the harsh reality is that until a strong and secure relief system is established, there is little hope of relief for these faces. If you look at the situation in Gaza with an open heart even once, you will realize that this is not just someone else’s story. It is a cry from all those humans who are merely demanding their right to survive.