Gaza Strip Food Supply Reports, along with Gaza Strip Targeted Analyses, are produced as part of special FEWS NET reporting in response to the Israel-Hamas conflict. Past Targeted Analyses and Food Supply reports are available on FEWS NET’s Gaza page. The next Targeted Analysis will provide an update on acute food insecurity outcomes in Gaza, drawing from this report and other available sources of evidence. FEWS NET does not have an operational presence in Gaza, meaning its approach to monitoring and mapping acute food insecurity in Gaza differs from that in its established reporting countries. The analytical framework and methods of analysis are consistent with project-wide approaches.
Gaza food supply assessment, as of May 2024
Key Messages
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Available data suggest a significant decrease in the volume of food entering Gaza in May 2024 relative to April. Some data limitations, especially the lack of information regarding commercial truck entries at southern crossings, suggest FEWS NET’s May 2024 supply estimate may be slightly underestimated. In the June 2024 Gaza Food Supply Report, FEWS NET will update the May 2024 supply estimate with any newly available data and information.
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An estimated 28,400-30,400 MT of food entered Gaza in May, down from an estimated 57,000-59,000 MT in April. The breakdown of food entering in May by entry point is as follows: approximately 16,000-18,000 MT through Kerem Shalom and Rafah crossings; 505 MT via air drops; 10,894 MT through Erez crossings; and 1,000 MT via the direct maritime corridor. Compared to April, this represents a significant decrease in food entering via the Kerem Shalom and Rafah crossings, but a significant increase in food entering via the Erez crossings.
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The majority of food entering Gaza continues to be transported by trucks via the Rafah and Kerem Shalom crossings in the south. However, Rafah crossing was either closed or saw minimal traffic for most of May, while Kerem Shalom had significantly reduced traffic. On average, 106 trucks entered via Kerem Shalom and Rafah per day in May; 62 percent of these carried food, bringing the estimated 16,000-18,000 MT of food into Gaza this month. The full scale of food entering Gaza through these crossings is unclear, as the UN has been unable to maintain a presence for tracking commercial flows after May 5. The lack of data on commercial trucks for the majority of the month suggests total May supply estimates may be underestimated; however, the scale of the underestimation is likely relatively small as commercial trucks have consistently represented a small proportion of vehicles entering through these crossings.
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Available reporting indicates increased traffic through the Erez crossing in early May, following its opening and limited use in April. On May 9, a second gate (Erez West) was opened. Consistent and consolidated data on the number of trucks or total MT of food entering through the Erez gates is not available. Amid various data sources and incomplete reporting, FEWS NET is drawing on the estimate provided by WFP in its May 29 Situation Report that 838 trucks crossed through northern Gaza in May, delivering approximately 10,894 MT of food.
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In addition to the large drop in humanitarian trucks entering through Kerem Shalom and Rafah crossings in May, publicly available information suggests Gaza received only 11 air drops – delivering an estimated 505 MT of food – in May, compared to 2,004 MT in April. Additionally, the United States military’s Joint Logistics Over-the-Short (JLOTS) floating pier became operational on May 16 and supported the delivery of over 1,000 MT of aid; however, heavy seas damaged the pier on May 25, requiring over a week of repairs and delaying full operation.
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In addition to lower supply in May, food supply distribution across Gaza remains extremely difficult, and prices remain extremely high. Challenges include a shortage of approved trucks and drivers, conflict and strikes on aid groups, limited storage, and denial or delay by the Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) of humanitarian convoys (44 percent of May missions were denied, postponed, or withdrawn). Additionally, increased conflict and Israeli Defense Force (IDF) orders to clear out many areas of Rafah have halted market activities.
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