Report from the North of Gaza

The situation here in Gaza is incredibly precarious, especially in the north. Today, I experienced the danger firsthand when I was stranded at the crossing point between north and south for over two hours. Explosions erupted around me, and I found myself in close proximity to three tanks. It was a harrowing experience, and it underscores just how volatile things have become.

Each time I cross into the north, I notice more destruction. During this visit, I saw that 20 buildings that had been standing on Salah Al-Din Street, the main thoroughfare, are now flattened—gone within just a couple of weeks since my last visit. On my way to our office in Gaza City, I passed by a market that was nearly empty, with only a few canned goods left on the shelves.

While the south is seeing some commercial truck entry into the territory, the north remains cut off from these vital supplies. Only humanitarian aid is being permitted into the north — no commercial goods —  and it’s far from enough. Flour has been allowed into the north in recent months, so the bakeries are stocked and families can still afford bread. But essential items like vegetables, meat, milk, and medicine are extremely scarce. When fresh produce does make it here, it’s priced far out of reach. Tomatoes, for instance, are selling for 800 NIS per kilogram ($96 per pound), and even then, they have to be imported from outside.

The water crisis is worsening too. Many wells in the north have been damaged or destroyed, and the vast majority of people have had no access to electricity since October. Some are managing with solar power and costly generators that need fuel to run. I’m proud to say that a water well we renovated in the north with solar power is still supplying water to the surrounding area. In the south, preschools we built or renovated are now acting as shelters, sustained by solar power and reverse osmosis systems. But we urgently need water purification tablets to ensure that the water is safe to drink.

I plan to visit our northern tekias (community kitchens) and distribution points tomorrow. Most of our staff in the north is based in Gaza City, but I’ve stressed the need to find a safe house in case things get worse. But “safe” is a relative term—there’s really no place that can be considered safe anymore.

Despite all these challenges, there are glimmers of hope. I’ve heard that some farmers in the north have started planting again. We’re exploring ways to support them with seedlings and greenhouse rehabilitation, and maybe even purchasing seedlings locally. 

Two weeks ago, we coordinated with OCHA to deliver 1,200 vegetable parcels from the south to the north, a rare feat, given the severing of the north from the south.

The upcoming Qurbani meat distribution (two months late because we need to ensure a temperature-controlled supply chain involving the storage, transportation, and distribution of perishable goods) is another positive development. We’re expecting two trucks of meat to arrive from the West Bank on Thursday, one for Gaza City and one for further north. Community leaders and partners are prepared to protect these vital supplies to ensure they reach the families who need them most.

Looking ahead, Anera is planning to expand our ready-to-eat meal program. We’re actively seeking new food vendors outside of Gaza and we plan to provide cookware and utensils to help families cook their own meals as more tents arrive. We’re also working on redesigning our food parcels to include a more diverse set of items like dried fruits, pasta, sugar, rice, and cooking oil. And of course, our tekias will continue for the foreseeable future.

I also want to take this opportunity to point out that there are more than 1.8 million people crammed into southern Gaza, with most concentrated in the small area of Mawasi. There are FAR fewer people in the north  –  some 250,00 to 300,000. So the bulk of Anera’s response is in the south.

As I reflect on the dire conditions here, it’s clear that our interventions are more critical than ever. The situation demands urgent and sustained efforts to ensure that the most vulnerable can survive and rebuild.