Abstract
Background
The continuing Gaza-Israel war puts the civilian population in Gaza at risk of food and nutrition insecurity. We aimed to assess the nutritional content of the humanitarian food aid supplied to Gaza. We assembled and analyzed data on the quantity of food aid delivered to the Gaza Strip, and analyzed its compliance with population needs, as established by Sphere international humanitarian guidelines.
Methods
We obtained the registry of all food aid delivered to Gaza via air drops and land crossings between January - April 2024 from Israel’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT). For every truck or airdrop of food, we categorized, quantified, and assessed the nutrient composition of individual food items. We then summed the energy, protein, fat, and iron content of all shipments, and calculated supply per capita per day, according to the size of Gaza’s population. Finally, we compared the findings to the Sphere standards for food security and nutrition in conflict-affected populations.
Results
Between January and April 2024, 14,916 trucks conveying 227,854 tons, and 95 airdrops weighing 3,694 tons of food entered Gaza. On average, 3,729 food trucks per month entered Gaza, with a continuous increase of 431 trucks per month since January. Between January and April, the overall weight of food shipments increased by 57%. Food group diversity increased. The crude mean per capita per day energy supplied was 3,374 kcal, protein was 101 gr (12.1% of energy), fat was 80.6 gr (21.5% of energy), and iron was 25.2 mg. Energy, protein, and fat amounts exceed Sphere recommendations. Although the amount of iron supplied improved over time, it remained lower than the Sphere standard.
Conclusions
Of the four pillars of food security - availability, access, utilization, and stability - this study focuses on the availability pillar. The quantity and quality of food aid delivered to Gaza have steadily improved since January 2024 and supply sufficient energy, protein, and fat for the population’s needs. In addition to monitoring the quality and quantity of food available to Gaza, reliable data on food distribution and population access will be necessary for securing the civilian population’s nutrition.