The queue at the "tekkiya" food kitchens has become a familiar sight for displaced citizens in Gaza, from young children to the elderly, all worn down by the devastating effects of war. "I got it... I don't," echoes the conversation among those lining up at the tekkiya, each person hoping for their daily meal. With no work and no food, the situation in Gaza is beyond description, as families continue to suffer in the aftermath of a year of conflict.

Access to food and basic necessities in Gaza has become an immense burden, especially for displaced individuals. The rising prices and the unavailability of essential food items like vegetables have left many with no choice but to wait for hours in line at the tekkiya. Abu Essa Sorour, a displaced father, explains that his family relies entirely on the food from the tekkiya, as there is no other way to prepare meals due to the high costs of firewood and other supplies. For him and others, the tekkiya is a lifeline.

It is not just men who are waiting in line; women in Gaza are also enduring the hardship of providing for their families. Sawsan Anbar, a displaced woman from the southern Gaza Strip, shares her responsibility of caring for her children while her husband remains in the north. She emphasises the resilience required of Palestinian women in such dire circumstances. For Sawsan and many others, the tekkiya offers the only means of survival in a place where food is scarce, and markets are empty.

The World Food Programme has reported that over half a million people in Gaza are facing catastrophic hunger levels. Many families receive incomplete food rations, and with ongoing attacks on Gaza, the tekkiya has become the only reliable source of food for many. Despite receiving the same basic food items every day, such as lentils and pasta, for many displaced families, it is better than facing total starvation. The hunger and poverty experienced by children and women in Gaza are heartbreaking, as they line up for what may be their only meal of the day.