Between Hunger and Hope: A story of Humanity in the Heart of Gaza

Testimony of a humanitarian worker at Action Against Hunger, Gaza

I have always had a passion and a dream to be part of a humanitarian mission that shares the same principles I believe in, to relentlessly save souls and alleviate suffering. When I joined Action Against Hunger as a humanitarian worker, I felt that I found my purpose in life. I was given the unique opportunity to be close to vulnerable people, especially those stuck in peril.  

But since the beginning of the war on Gaza and until this very moment, Gaza has witnessed a horrific and severe nutritional existence. With the constant border closures and blockades on all humanitarian aid, especially nutritional supplies, the reality on the ground gets worse day by day. Bakeries are forced to close their doors in the face of hungry people. Goods have become scarce, and obtaining a loaf of bread is now a mere dream. Staying alive is a challenge.  

I’d  never imagined that, throughout my mission, I would see children with frail, sunken bodies and with pleading, pain-filled eyes. That I would see youthful faces telling an unimaginable story of suffering, a child whose stomach echoes while he waits for a food delivery to shut his hunger up, a lady gathering food off the ground, nor imploring mothers praying for the crisis to end.

I come across so many cases of children facing malnutrition. We try our best to offer them help so they can continue to flourish and live. But with the current situation, even pregnant and breastfeeding women are suffering from acute malnutrition. I have met so many women who fight back against horrific hunger with barely able bodies, and that worsens their conditions even more so. Not only is their health in jeopardy, but also the health of their embryos and their children. 

This situation has repeatedly made me ask myself: how can I offer them any sense of comfort, even if a little? How can I reassure a mother about the wellbeing of her child when she herself does not know where she can get their next meal? And how can I speak to her about the importance of proper nutrition, when she has nothing that she can provide? Every time, this question haunts me: how can this mother stay resilient in the face of all these challenges and hurdles?  

Today, I work as a breastfeeding counselor with Action Against Hunger, and with every consultation my worst fears get confirmed: there’s no end to this crisis. The situation is growing more catastrophic, and the acute shortage in aid and assistance is increasing alarmingly.  Breastfeeding and pregnant women are facing double the risk: their bodies are exhausted from pregnancy and childbirth, and they face harsh hunger, prolonged deprivation, and a severe lack of all essential health and nutrition necessities.   

My colleagues and I, in Action Against Hunger, continue to work with hearts full of determination despite all challenges. We work to find that glimmer of hope. Humanitarian work in Gaza is not merely a response to a crisis, but a testament of the resilience of people in the face of hardships.  

We believe that what we do today, no matter how small it may seem, makes a difference in the lives of those children and women. We believe that the delivery of aid, the continuation of humanitarian support, and the reopening of the border crossings are not merely humanitarian demands, but necessities for survival. It is a hope we cling to. Between hunger and hope, there are countless stories of resilience and optimism for a better tomorrow, told day after day.