NORTHERN GAZA – The sounds of explosions that never truly cease, collapsed homes, and a sky heavy with smoke have become the backdrop of daily life for the people of Gaza. But beneath the physical destruction lies another deadly threat: extreme hunger. In a land where every corner carries a story of loss, Gaza is now facing one of the darkest chapters in its humanitarian history.
F. Arif, Assistant Manager for International Humanitarian Affairs at LPM DT Peduli, describes the situation bluntly: “The humanitarian conditions in the Gaza Strip are reaching a critical point day by day… more than two-thirds of Gaza’s population is now living under ‘Catastrophe’ conditions (IPC Phase 5).”
In Northern Gaza, the crisis is even more dire. Access to food has almost completely collapsed. Many families survive on a single meal a day—some on scraps of food that can no longer meet their nutritional needs.
With cooking facilities destroyed, raw ingredients hold little meaning. What people need most is ready-to-eat food—meals they can consume immediately, as the ongoing conflict leaves no room for food preparation.
Bringing Back the Scent of Life
On Sunday (2 November 2025) and Monday (3 November 2025), in a small corner of Northern Gaza, a community kitchen was lit once again. From its large steel pots rose the aroma of warm, spiced briyani rice—ordinary under normal circumstances, but extraordinary in Gaza today.
DT Peduli’s Community Kitchen resumed operations to provide ready-to-eat meals for those most affected by the crisis. Over its two-day run, 2,400 people received hot meals.
For many, this fragrant rice was more than just food. It was strength to endure, energy to keep moving, and a reminder that caring hands from afar still think of them.
“In such emergency conditions, ready-to-eat food becomes the most urgent need,” Arif noted.
Smiles and Hope
Residents came carrying whatever containers they could find—cracked plastic bowls, small pots, even empty biscuit tins. Anything that could hold food, they clutched tightly with hope.
Local volunteers stood beside massive pots filled with steaming briyani. Using large ladles, they portioned the meals carefully and fairly, ensuring everyone received their share. Their hands moved quickly yet gently, filling each container with hot rice that still released steam into the cool air.
Amid the queue, small smiles slowly emerged—smiles of relief that had long been absent. Some smiled while wiping tears. Others stared at their filled containers, as if making sure the warm rice was truly real. These small moments became a brief breath of comfort in a situation that allows none.
A young girl, after receiving her portion, whispered softly, “Thank you. May Allah bless you.”
During the distribution, a local volunteer working with DT Peduli expressed deep gratitude to the people of Indonesia. His voice was firm yet gentle, as though he was trying to convey the gratitude of all Gaza in a single heartfelt message.
“Today, 2 November 2025, we continue to stand with you as we serve warm meals to our displaced brothers and sisters here in northern Gaza. And we extend our deepest thanks to the people of Indonesia for this kindness. May Allah bless you. You have long supported our displaced families here in northern Gaza. May Allah reward you with the best on our behalf,” he said beside the steaming pots.
His simple words carried enormous weight. They were meant to ensure that the support from Indonesia reaches the heart, not just the stomach.
Solidarity that Warms Gaza
In the midst of a conflict tearing lives apart, ladling rice directly from a large pot is more than an act of aid. It is a symbol of solidarity that transcends borders, language, and distance.
For the people of Gaza, bringing home a container filled with warm rice means bringing home a fragment of life. It may be only one or two portions to feed a family, but it is enough to sustain them for another day. And in Gaza today, surviving one more day is a meaningful victory.
DT Peduli’s Community Kitchen reaffirms its commitment to remain on the frontlines of humanitarian response. As long as there is still a way to deliver assistance, this kitchen will continue to operate—keeping hope alive, providing warmth, and restoring life for those who have lost nearly everything.
In this wounded land, the steaming pots have become symbols of resilience and compassion. And from every ladle of rice, flows a prayer, strength, and a reminder that humanity has not extinguished.
“Every warm meal served through DT Peduli’s Community Kitchen is a real expression of compassion that transcends geography and circumstance,” Arif emphasized.
Editor: Agus ID