Summary
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) is distributing food aid boxes in Gaza, but experts have expressed concerns about their nutritional value. These boxes contain mostly dried foods and provide enough calories but lack important nutrients, which could lead to health problems over time.
Key Facts
- The GHF has distributed 91 million meals in Gaza, with each food aid box designed to feed 5.5 people for 3.5 days.
- Each box contains dried foods like pasta, chickpeas, lentils, wheat flour, cooking oil, salt, and tahini.
- Some ready-to-eat foods, like halva bars, are also included, but nutritional experts say the boxes lack essential vitamins and minerals.
- Dr. Andrew Seal noted deficiencies in calcium, iron, zinc, and vitamins C, D, B12, and K.
- The GHF's food boxes are criticized for providing calories but not a balanced diet, leading to potential health issues like anemia or scurvy.
- The UN and other organizations typically supplement food aid with targeted nutritional support, especially for vulnerable groups like children and pregnant women.
- The ongoing water and fuel crisis in Gaza makes it difficult to cook the dried foods in these boxes.
- Due to the conflict, people in Gaza rely on the black market for cooking gas, where prices are extremely high.
