Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza: An Analysis of Aid Delivery and Sustainable Development Goal Failures

International Discrepancies and the Challenge to SDG 2: Zero Hunger

A significant humanitarian crisis is unfolding in Gaza, directly contravening Sustainable Development Goal 2 (Zero Hunger). While the Israeli government maintains it is not responsible for the situation and does not restrict humanitarian aid, this position is contested by key international partners, including European nations and the United Nations. These organizations report that existing conditions are leading to starvation, a severe violation of SDG 2. In response to international pressure, Israel has initiated aid airdrops. However, these measures are viewed by observers as insufficient and potentially symbolic gestures rather than a comprehensive strategy to alleviate hunger.

Logistical Inefficiencies and Their Impact on SDG 16 and SDG 17

The reliance on airdrops as an aid delivery mechanism presents a critical challenge to achieving SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

• Ineffective Methodology: Humanitarian relief professionals consider airdrops a method of last resort, employed only when all ground access is impossible. This is not the case for Gaza, which has viable ground-based supply routes.
• Underutilized Infrastructure: Established logistical hubs, such as Israel’s Ashdod port and the Jordanian border crossing, represent more efficient and scalable channels for aid delivery. Failure to fully utilize these routes undermines the collaborative spirit of SDG 17.
• Risk of Local Conflict: Airdropped aid, often landing inaccurately, can incite conflict among a desperate population. Competition for scarce resources among civilians and exploitation by criminal elements work directly against the objective of SDG 16 to promote peaceful and inclusive societies.

Population Displacement and the Violation of SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

The crisis has had a devastating impact on SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), which aims to make human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.

1. Extreme Population Density: Gaza, a territory comparable in size to the Isle of Wight or the city of Detroit, was one of the most densely populated areas globally before the conflict.
2. Forced Concentration: The majority of Gaza’s population of over two million has been forcibly displaced into a southern coastal area constituting approximately 17% of the strip’s total land.
3. Unsustainable Living Conditions: This mass displacement has resulted in vast, densely packed encampments of tents. Such conditions lack the basic infrastructure for sanitation, health, and safety, making the goal of sustainable communities unattainable and severely compromising SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being). The lack of open space further complicates the logistics and safety of aid airdrops.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

SDG 2: Zero Hunger

• The article’s central theme is the “humanitarian catastrophe” in Gaza, with a specific focus on “starvation.” It discusses the desperate need for food, mentioning that people are fighting over aid pallets containing “flour, sugar and tinned food.” This directly relates to the goal of ending hunger and ensuring access to food.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

• The article describes a massive displacement crisis. It notes that before the war, Gaza was one of the “world’s most densely populated places,” but now Israel has “forced most of Gaza’s people into a tiny area on the southern coast.” Their living conditions are described as “densely packed tents,” which points to a lack of safe and adequate housing, a core concern of SDG 11.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

• The entire situation described stems from a violent conflict. The article mentions the breakdown of order, where aid distribution is hampered by “criminal elements who will want to sell it for profit.” It also highlights the diplomatic and political dimensions, noting that Israel’s claims about aid are “not accepted by its close allies in Europe, or the United Nations,” pointing to issues of international justice and institutional effectiveness.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

• The article explicitly mentions the various actors involved in the humanitarian response, including “Israel,” “close allies in Europe,” “the United Nations,” and “other agencies active in Gaza.” The challenges in coordinating and delivering aid, such as the debate over airdrops versus land routes through “Ashdod, Israel’s modern container port,” underscore the complexities and critical importance of effective partnerships to address the crisis.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

SDG 2: Zero Hunger

• Target 2.1: By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people, in particular the poor and people in vulnerable situations… to safe, nutritious and sufficient food all year round. The article’s focus on “starvation in Gaza” and “desperate men trying to get food for their families” directly highlights the failure to meet this target for the population of Gaza.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

• Target 11.1: By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services. The description of “most of Gaza’s people” being forced to live in “densely packed tents” in a “tiny area” indicates a complete lack of access to adequate and safe housing.
• Target 11.5: By 2030, significantly reduce the number of deaths and the number of people affected… caused by disasters… with a focus on protecting the poor and people in vulnerable situations. The conflict is a man-made disaster, and the article details its effect on the “population of more than two million Palestinians,” who are now in a “humanitarian catastrophe.”

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

• Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere. The article is set within the context of an ongoing war, which is the ultimate form of violence this target seeks to reduce.
• Target 16.A: Strengthen relevant national institutions… to prevent violence and combat… crime. The mention of “criminal elements” taking control of aid supplies points to a breakdown of local institutions and the rule of law.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

• Target 17.16: Enhance the global partnership for sustainable development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships. The article illustrates the challenges within this partnership, citing the disagreement between Israel and its “close allies in Europe, or the United Nations” on the responsibility for the crisis and the best methods for aid delivery.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Indicators for SDG 2 (Zero Hunger)

• Prevalence of Undernourishment (Indicator 2.1.1): The article’s direct mention of “starvation” serves as a qualitative indicator of extreme undernourishment and a severe lack of food access.
• Amount of Humanitarian Aid: The article provides a specific, though minimal, data point: “seven packages of aid containing flour, sugar and tinned food.” This can be used as an indicator of the scale of the response, which is implied to be insufficient.

Indicators for SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities)

• Proportion of Population in Inadequate Housing (Indicator 11.1.1): The statement that “most of Gaza’s people” from a population of over two million now live in “densely packed tents” is a clear, though not precisely quantified, indicator of the population living in inadequate, temporary shelters.
• Number of People Affected by a Disaster (Indicator 11.5.2): The article implies a massive number of people are affected by stating that “most of Gaza’s people” from a pre-war population of “more than two million Palestinians” have been displaced and are living through a “humanitarian catastrophe.”

Indicators for SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions)

• Existence of Organized Crime: The reference to “criminal elements who will want to sell it for profit” is an indicator of the breakdown of law and order and the failure of institutions to ensure safe and equitable distribution of essential goods.

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators” to present the findings from analyzing the article. In this table, list the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), their corresponding targets, and the specific indicators identified in the article.

Source: bbc.com