BBC’s Gaza Freelance journalists struggle to feed families

Three reliable freelance Palestinian journalists who depend on their Gaza coverage have shared how they are now struggling to feed their families and often go for two days or more without eating.

All men have run their cameras, send us important footage, even in those days when their close relatives have been killed, they have lost their homes, or are running away from Israel’s military progress with their families.

During the assignment, an Israeli bombing was badly injured before the pellet.

But he says that the present time is “the most difficult time when I was born.

Global food safety experts have not yet classified the situation as a famine in Gaza, but the United Nations agencies have warned of man -made, massive starvation.

He has convicted Israel, which controls all supplies entering the Palestinian region, but has denied responsibility.

We have agreed not to identify your colleagues for their safety.

They tell us that not being able to provide for the youngest and weakest people among their loved ones.

One of our cameramen in Gaza City says, “My son has autism, who is walking around him. He does not know that we are in a war and he does not speak.”

“In recent times, he is so hungry that he starts killing his stomach with his hand to indicate that he wants to eat.”

Our youngest colleagues, who are in Southern Gaza, are the main breadwiners for their parents and brothers and sisters.

“I constantly wonder how to get food for your family,” he tells us. “My younger sister, who is 13 years old, keeps asking for food and water and we cannot get anyone for him. Any water we find will be contaminated.”

The BBC has issued a joint statement with other media organizations, stating that it is “strictly worried” about the good of local freelance journalists that it works in Gaza.

The statement of BBC and AFP, AP and Reuters News agencies said, “For many months, these independent journalists Gaza have the world’s eyes and ears on the ground. They are now facing the same strict situations that they are covering.”

The current circumstances tell the story of whether it is becoming more challenging.

An experienced journalist says, “I feel tired and tired all the time, to get dizzy and fall to the ground,” says an experienced journalist who now works with us in Gaza City and is taking care of his mother, sisters and five children aged two to 16 years.

He says that he has lost 30kg (4st 7LBS) in 21 months of war.

“I used to complete most news reports with great speed, but now I am slow in eliminating them due to my poor health and psychological state,” he tells us. “Delirium and fatigue are with me.”

“I can’t describe the spirit,” our southern Gaza says Cameraman. “My stomach turns into lumps, and I have a headache, add it to weaken and weak. I used to work from 07:00 to 22:00, but now I can hardly do a story. I am just feeling dizzy.”

Recently, he fell during filming but later resumed his work.

While the lack of food during the war has been a continuous issue, earlier those who received salary from outside could still buy basic supply at high prices on local markets. Even now those markets are quite empty.

“I have reached the point of taking food from charity kitchen. In recent times, it means that my children are eating a meal in a day – only limited foods such as lentils, rice and pasta,” Gaza City Journalists say with four young children.

Two men say that they have taken water with a little salt to try to suppress their hunger. One says that he can sometimes buy 50 grams of biscuits for his daily meals but cost 30 shekels ($ 9; £ 6.60).

Catching money is an exam in itself. This now involves using money traders.

“If I need cash, it is not mostly available, but when it happens, it is with a 45%withdrawal fee,” a Gaza City cameraman. “This means that if I go to $ 1,000 to extract, I will only get $ 550. The whole process is ending and nowadays any seller demands cash.”

Our colleague in Southern Gaza said, “The difficulty is due to the shutdown of banks. This money transfer is another form of sorrow after our hunger.”

In the past, the Israel-recognized BBC journalists such as they were able to report themselves to Gaza regularly, even during the war.

However, since the onset of the war on 7 October 2023, Israel has still opened up with Egypt – when its Rafa crossing was still open – has prevented foreign journalists from accessing the area leaving limited embed with the Israeli army.

The BBC and other news organizations said in their statement, “We once again urge Israeli officials to allow journalists in Gaza and outside.”

This week, 28 countries including the UK issued a joint statement, stating: “The war in Gaza should end now.” He called Israel to follow his obligations under international law and to stop the “drip feeding” of assistance.

On Wednesday, more than 100 support agencies and rights groups stated that “with the supply now finished completely, human organizations are ruining their own colleagues and partners in front of their eyes.”

News organizations said: “Journalists have tolerated many opportunities and difficulties in Warzones. We are deeply concerned that the danger of starvation is now one of them.”

He said: “It is necessary that adequate food supply reaches people [in Gaza],

For now, our own colleagues are struggling to receive through each day, balanced their responsibilities for their families, with the desire to tell the world about the extraordinary difficulties that are living through their people.

“This is currently frightening. Hunger has reached every house,” one told us. “It is like a suspended death sentence.”