The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has warned that bakeries that are a lifeline for hundreds of thousands of hungry or starving Palestinians in Gaza are about to close – if not already – due to shortages of flour and fuel.

This comes at a time when parts of northern Gaza are at risk of imminent famine. In the central and southern parts of the Strip, United Nations partners reported a sharp increase in the number of families suffering from extreme hunger.

WFP said only seven of the 19 bakeries supported by humanitarian partners in Gaza were still functioning – two in Deir al-Balah, one in Khan Younis and four in Gaza City.

Meanwhile, seven UN-supported bakeries in Rafah governorate and northern Gaza remain closed due to ongoing hostilities. The three operating bakeries in Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis are supported by UN partners and are currently operating at full capacity to meet very high demand, but the flour they have is only enough until the end of the week.

OCHA warns once again that armed looting — exacerbated by the breakdown of public order and safety in Gaza — is becoming increasingly systematic, also putting relief workers at risk and making it almost impossible for humanitarian organizations to carry out their work.