WFP cuts aid to ‌500,000 Palestinians in Gaza amid funding shortages

The World Food Programme (WFP) has announced significant cuts to its aid operations in Gaza due to severe funding shortages. Starting Monday, approximately 500,000 Palestinians will lose critical support, reducing the number of people receiving monthly assistance from 1.6 million to 1.1 million. Rations will be halved, and the number of daily hot meals provided will decrease. The WFP stated it urgently needs $450 million over the next six months to maintain operations in the occupied Palestinian territory. These cuts threaten to reverse fragile progress on food security in Gaza, where the population faces daily struggles for basic necessities following years of conflict.

The World Food Programme (WFP) has been forced to end support for over half a million Palestinians in Gaza due to significant funding cuts. This reduction means aid now reaches 1.1 million people monthly, down from 1.6 million, impacting ration boxes, cash stipends, and hot meals. Two-thirds of Gaza's population face crisis-level food insecurity, with 200,000 at risk of famine. The WFP requires over £300 million in the next six months to restore programs. Reconstruction has stalled, jobs are scarce, and the majority of Gazans rely on aid, with chronic malnutrition affecting one in eight children. Israeli restrictions on aid shipments also contribute to the escalating crisis by increasing operational costs.

The World Food Programme (WFP) is reducing its aid to Gaza due to funding shortages, impacting approximately one-third of the people it assists, dropping from 1.6 million to 1.1 million. Families currently receiving aid report that existing provisions are insufficient and lack dietary diversity. The WFP stated that these cuts will worsen the already harsh conditions faced by families in Gaza, who are living in tents with poor access to water, sanitation, and healthcare. The situation is compounded by the lack of cooking gas, forcing families to burn plastic and cardboard for fuel. Humanitarian workers warn that despite some improvements, acute food insecurity and the risk of famine remain significant concerns in the territory.

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