You may have not heard the name Hamada Shaqoura, but you have definitely seen his videos. A food blogger from Gaza, the 32-year-old is on a staunch mission to feed thousands of displaced kids facing dire humanitarian circumstances. Starvation looms as their harsh reality, but Shaqoura’s culinary creations crafted out of food aid supplies aim to bring a ray of hope. As the camera pans to a group of Gazan children sampling his dishes, their smiles speak volumes, providing the heroic chef with glowing reviews for his daily creations, ranging from fettuccine alfredo to burgers, steak wraps, and shawarma.
Originally from the north of Gaza City, the young chef and his family were uprooted by the war, first relocating to Khan Younis, and then forced even further south as conflict persisted. Now, they find themselves residing in a tent in a refugee camp in Rafah. With aid to the strip scarce and lacking in nutritional value, Shaqoura decided to take matters into his own hands, creatively preparing meals to improve their daily diet. Most of the ingredients come from aid distribution trucks, supplemented by a few items from local markets, though prices are prohibitively high, leaving Shaqoura with limited options. “The initiative started from the idea of renewing and using the canned food that we get from food aids for cooking in a different and delicious way and to make foods that are not currently available, which we used to eat before the war,” Shaqoura tells TRT World.
“Obtaining food and ingredients is very difficult, as it depends on the aid that reaches us. Unfortunately, it is not sufficient and does not arrive on a continuous basis. It can be bought from the markets, but its price is very high,” he continues.
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Starvation is the reality unfolding in Gaza as we speak, with families struggling to keep their children alive with a rapid increase in malnutrition, a humanitarian crisis that calls for international outcry and assistance. An estimated 30% of children below the age of two are now acutely malnourished and 70% of the population in the North is facing catastrophic hunger, reads the latest hunger data UN report spotlighting the extent of famine in Gaza. According to the World Food Programme,The Gaza Strip could surpass famine thresholds of food insecurity, malnutrition and mortality in six weeks.
Since Oct. 7, Israel has heightened its 17-year blockade on the Strip, exacerbating its already heavy reliance on humanitarian aid. Despite staggering levels of relentless violence, resulting in over 2 million displaced and 34,000 Palestinians dead, experts warn that hunger and disease may surpass the casualties caused by bombs and bullets. Calls have intensified for Israel to allow lifesaving food, medical supplies, and essentials into Gaza. Despite promises to ease the blockade, reports from experts on the ground suggest little improvement thus far.
Amidst the unfolding tragedy, Shaqoura has garnered global attention with his cooking videos. Boasting 220,000 followers on Instagram, Shaqoura’s makeshift kitchen serves as a window into the resourcefulness amidst scarcity . His videos uniquely juxtapose familiar internet trends with the grim reality of Gaza, such as unpacking plastic-wrapped provisions from aid organizations in a poignant twist on the typical “unboxing video.” Additionally, the former marketing specialist showcases his recipes tailored for mass distribution to refugees.
From the humanitarian rations acquired through enduring hours-long queues, Shaqoura concocts dishes like curries, pizza wraps, and plenty more gastronomic delights. Despite the scarcity, his posts exude a resilient optimism. “Very limited supplies, but still, we do magic, we can make children smile with a simple taco,” reads one Instagram caption. Through his cooking, Shaqoura aims to uplift his fellow Gazans and safeguard their personal and cultural heritage amidst unprecedented destruction, amidst an ongoing genocide.
