State of the World from NPR Looking Back: A Dangerous Quest for Food in Gaza
Jan 2, 2026
Anas Baba, an NPR reporter from Gaza, shares his chilling first-hand experiences with hunger and chaos during the 2025 humanitarian crisis. He recounts a harrowing midnight rush to a food distribution site under Israeli fire. Crowds fighting for rations and the risks posed by armed thieves paint a vivid picture of desperation. Daniel Estrin provides crucial context, highlighting the dangers and politics surrounding aid in Gaza. Together, they shed light on the brutal realities of survival in a conflict zone.
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Reporter Living the Famine
- Anas Baba lived through severe hunger while reporting in Gaza and lost a third of his body weight.
- He decided to walk to a GHF food distribution site to document the famine firsthand and to prove what people were enduring.
Authorized Aid Became A Death Zone
- The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation was the only authorized channel under a restricted deal meant to deliver aid into Gaza.
- On the ground, the system concentrated people and risk, turning distribution sites into deadly flashpoints.
Hunger Removes Risk Aversion
- Hunger drove people to extreme actions, reducing fear and increasing risks taken to obtain food.
- Anas observed that craving for food can make people capable of anything to feed themselves and their children.