A young Palestinian girl hungrily bites into a meat-filled wrap at a displacement shelter in southern Gaza, her eyes wide with gratitude.
In another scene from the Instagram video, posted by Hamada Shaqoura in March, the girl feeds a little boy the same sandwich. Their shadows dance in the golden glow of the Gazan sun.
Shaqoura, a Palestinian food blogger displaced in the Gaza Strip, says he cooks on a gas stove and distributes meals using tinned food from aid parcels and other fresh ingredients, to bring joy to displaced children.
“I wanted to make new things for a change and to present new flavors. When I made my first attempt and saw the children’s happiness… I was pleased and felt that as a food blogger, I could provide something of value under these difficult circumstances,” the 32-year-old told CNN on April 6.
Shaqoura, who is displaced with his 25-year-old pregnant wife, Lamis, started posting viral clips of his creations on social media. He cooks a variety of dishes ranging from tuna stew, beef tacos and pasta. Israel’s severe restrictions on aid entering Gaza have drained essential supplies, exposing the entire population of more than 2.2 million people to the risk of famine.
The siege has caused a real famine in the Gaza Strip. Most products are not available and if available, they would be very expensive. Unfortunately, children and elderly died from lack of food and malnourishment here in Gaza,” added Shaqoura. “I hope the siege ends and we can return and live like the rest of the world.”
