STORY: "I'm a woman on my own with young girls to feed," says Asmaa al-Belbasi.

This is how desperate she and other Gazans are for bread: she walks daily through the dangerous landscape of north Gaza, reduced to rubble by Israeli strikes...

and where sporadic fighting breaks out between Israeli forces and Hamas militants.

Aid agencies say famine still looms here though some bakeries have reopened and supplies are improving.

It's an hour to the bakery and an hour home, she says.

"We need to get to this area but can't by car because the roads are all blocked with rubble from strikes. The sun beats down and you find a long queue there from the morning and you're exhausted by the time you return - all for some bread."

Restoring Gaza's bakeries and ensuring a regular supply of flour, water and fuel will be crucial to stopping famine.

The first bakery re-opened mid-April using flour and fuel provided by the World Food Programme.

Hundreds of people stood in line among the ruins and the bakers had to employ stewards to maintain order.

Out of five run by Kamel Ajour Bakeries, it's the only one back up and running.

Though the need is so high they're running a 24-hour operation, says the bakery's administrator Karam Ajour.

"We suffered a lot of damage - more than 80 percent of our equipment across all our branches in the Gaza Strip. But with God's help, as much as possible, we were able to retrieve some of it and operate to provide for the people and produce bread."

Belbasi says she waits at least 20 minutes each day for two bags of flatbread, a staple for Gazans, which she needs for her children and other relatives.

"What can we do," she says. There's no transport and no one to help her.

Back at home, the girls are waiting anxiously for her safe return.

And to eat.

Pockets of famine are emerging in Gaza and children have died from malnutrition and dehydration.

Even Israel's closest allies have increased pressure on it to do more to let in food.

BELBASI: "Before they reopened the bakeries, we would get corn flour which you couldn't knead, it was like a log, it would come out like a biscuit. After a day or two it'd be difficult to eat."

Israel has blockaded Gaza for months but aid started to flow in higher volumes into northern Gaza since it opened a new crossing point.

But aid agencies warn it is still nowhere near enough and the WFP said last week northern Gaza is still heading towards famine.