Since the beginning of the current conflict, precipitated by the attack on Israel by Hamas on 7 October
2023 and followed by a major military offensive by Israel, humanitarian aid for civilians entering Gaza
has been far less than what is needed, with hardly any of it reaching the north. Tight restrictions on aid
goods, equipment, and personnel allowed to cross into Gaza have severely limited operational capacity
for distribution, and there is no protected operational space for humanitarian efforts. The more than
30,000 civilian deaths have included over 150 aid workers, an unprecedented number for a single
context in such a short period. The mounting scarcity, desperation, and the breakdown of civil order
have meant that the small amount of aid coming into Gaza on trucks is often seized before it can be
distributed in a safe and principled way. People are now struggling to meet basic survival needs, with
the first deaths of children from acute dehydration and malnutrition reported in early March 2024.
This report contains the findings of a telephone survey of Gaza residents conducted in mid-February 2024.