Gaza aid drops by 80% since Iran war began

2026-03-20 - 05:00

The price of a 25kg bag of flour has risen to about 100 shekels, three times its previous price. (EPA Images pic) NEW YORK: International estimates indicate that the number of aid trucks entering the Gaza has decreased by approximately 80% since the start of the US-Israeli war on Iran. The weekly average dropped from about 4,200 trucks before the war to 590 in the first week and 1,137 in the second week, Palestinian news agency (WAFA) reported. The sharp decline in aid flow has impacted living conditions, with a significant increase in food prices and shortages of basic goods within the enclave. The price of a 25kg bag of flour has risen to about 100 shekels, three times its previous price, and the price of a kilogramme of tomatoes has increased from about 5 shekels to 12. Meanwhile, products such as cooking oil and canned goods have disappeared from the markets. In the health sector, medical sources reported a growing shortage of medical equipment and warned of the risk of power grids, which rely on generators, collapsing due to fuel and spare parts shortages. The World Health Organization also warned of a worsening shortage of medicines and medical supplies. For its part, Unicef stressed that the aid it provides “saves the lives of children and their families in Gaza”, warning that any disruption would further deteriorate the humanitarian situation.