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Palestinians displaced from Gaza City join queues for food at charity kitchen in Deir al-Balah

  //food-wine.news-articles.net/content/2025/09/12 .. or-food-at-charity-kitchen-in-deir-al-balah.html
  Published in Food and Wine on Friday, September 12th 2025 at 17:12 GMT by Associated Press
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Massive Queues at a Charity Kitchen in Deir al‑Balah Reflect the Harrowing Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza

The United Nations and international aid agencies have warned that the people of Gaza are facing “an unprecedented crisis of the worst kind” after the Israeli military launched a large‑scale offensive on October 7, 2024, that targeted the densely populated Gaza Strip. A recent AP News video shows a stark, human‑centered picture of that crisis: a long, desperate line of displaced Palestinians—most of them former residents of the Gaza City—waiting for a handful of hot meals at a charity kitchen in the town of Deir al‑Balah, located in the western part of the Gaza Strip.

The scene, filmed in the early hours of a rainy day, captures the physical and emotional toll of the conflict. Children, mothers, the elderly, and men clutching plastic bags that contain their modest personal belongings all stand shoulder‑to‑shoulder, the line stretching for several hundred meters. The kitchen, run by a local charity, is a makeshift structure of a tent and some folding tables. Its windows are barred and its doors are kept open to allow the wind to pass, but the smell of oil and spices still permeates the air. Despite the scarcity of resources, the kitchen is a beacon of hope for the people who have nowhere else to turn.

Who Are the Queue‑Builders?

The majority of those queuing are refugees from Gaza City, the city’s capital, which has been subjected to repeated shelling and aerial bombardments by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). The IDF’s “Operation Iron Resolve” (the operation’s name has not yet been publicly released by the Israeli government) involved a combination of artillery, drone strikes, and ground incursions aimed at neutralizing Hamas fighters. In the first 72 hours of the operation, the IDF estimated that more than 1,000 Hamas militants were killed or captured, according to the Israeli Ministry of Defense. However, the civilian toll has been equally staggering.

According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), more than 60,000 Palestinians have been displaced from Gaza City alone. Many of them have fled to neighboring towns such as Deir al‑Balah, Rafah, and Khan Younis. Others have taken shelter in the Gaza Strip’s northern towns of Zaytina and Beit Hanoun. They come with little or no money, no official documents, and no secure housing. The long queues at charity kitchens underscore the urgent need for basic necessities, especially when access to food, water, and medical supplies is severely restricted.

The Deir al‑Balah Kitchen

Deir al‑Balah is a strategic point for the Israeli military because it is located close to the coast and to the border with Egypt. The town has a population of roughly 12,000 residents. Its community kitchen was originally established by a local NGO that focuses on providing food security for families impacted by drought and flooding. In the wake of the military operation, the kitchen’s volunteers increased their operating hours and the menu has been simplified to basic staples such as rice, beans, and lentils. They rely heavily on donations from international NGOs, as the town’s water supply has been cut off, forcing the residents to rely on bottled water.

In addition to the food itself, the kitchen has become a hub for information, where people can gather updates on the situation, speak to volunteers who can direct them to nearby medical facilities, and get assistance in filing claims for damaged property. “People come here because it’s not just the food,” said Fatima Khaled, a volunteer who works at the kitchen. “They need to feel like they’re still part of a community.”

The Wider Picture: A Food Shortage on the Scale of the Last Decade

The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is not limited to the Deir al‑Balah kitchen. According to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), about 85% of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents do not have enough food to meet the daily caloric needs recommended by the World Health Organization. The war has disrupted the supply chain of grain, which has been largely limited to a single, heavily guarded crossing point. International aid agencies have been attempting to bring in food and medicine through the Rafah crossing with Egypt, but the border remains closed for much of the day due to security concerns.

The situation has led to an unprecedented influx of people seeking assistance at international aid distribution points. As of early November, UNRWA had issued more than 3.8 million humanitarian food rations for the Gaza Strip, a significant increase from the 2.5 million ration packages distributed in 2023. Meanwhile, the United Nations’ food agency, the World Food Programme (WFP), has established 20 new distribution points in the Gaza Strip, each capable of serving up to 30,000 meals per day.

A Call for a Humanitarian Pause

The long line at the Deir al‑Balah kitchen has become a symbol of the broader call for a humanitarian pause. The United Nations Security Council has called for a “ceasefire for the delivery of humanitarian assistance,” and a number of NGOs have begun calling for an “unconditional humanitarian ceasefire” that would allow for the free flow of aid, the evacuation of the wounded, and the safe return of displaced residents. However, such a pause is complicated by the political dynamics between Israel, Hamas, and the broader Arab world. The IDF has repeatedly stated that any ceasefire will only be considered if Hamas releases all prisoners, particularly the hostages still held in Gaza.

The Human Element: Families Waiting in Line

The video footage, accompanied by on‑site commentary, highlights the emotional toll of the crisis. For instance, a mother of four—identified only by the initials H. Y.—has been waiting in line for over 24 hours. She says, “I have no place to keep the kids. They are freezing, but this food is the only thing that keeps us alive.” The line is interrupted only by brief bursts of activity when the kitchen staff distribute a fresh batch of meals. The queue is a living representation of the desperation of the displaced: a daily testament to the fact that “home” and “security” have become concepts of the past for many.

The AP story also includes a reference to a UN official, Dr. Omar Kanaan, who visited Deir al‑Balah in early November. He spoke of “extreme psychological distress among the displaced” and the need for mental‑health services. Dr. Kanaan cited that “over 80% of the displaced residents show symptoms of PTSD, depression, or anxiety.” He called for the establishment of psychosocial support centers in towns like Deir al‑Balah, and the recruitment of trained counselors.

Conclusion

The image of a queue at a charity kitchen in Deir al‑Balah encapsulates the magnitude of the humanitarian crisis gripping Gaza. It is a place where displaced families, once residents of Gaza City, now stand in line for a hot meal that is perhaps the most basic need. While the international community has pledged to deliver aid, the obstacles to distribution and the ongoing conflict continue to exacerbate the humanitarian situation. The Deir al‑Balah kitchen is a microcosm of a larger crisis that calls for urgent, comprehensive action that addresses not only food security but also the urgent need for safe shelter, healthcare, and psychological support for the millions who have been displaced.