Key Takeaways
- The World Food Programme will end monthly assistance to 500,000 people in Gaza.
- 1.1 million Palestinians will continue to receive reduced aid.
- Funding cuts follow a period of famine conditions in Gaza.
The World Food Programme (WFP) has announced it will end monthly assistance to 500,000 people in Gaza due to a funding shortfall, despite ongoing humanitarian needs in the territory.
With the cutbacks, 1.1 million Palestinians in Gaza — still about half the population — will be receiving either food or cash assistance each month, in reduced amounts.
Shaun Hughes, the WFP country director, stated that the situation remains dire, with 1.4 million people, or two-thirds of Gaza’s population, still 'acutely food insecure'.
In August last year, the UN’s Integrated Food Security Phase Classification declared Gaza was suffering famine conditions, a classification that was lifted in December after a US-brokered ceasefire.
Hughes emphasized that the reduction in aid is not due to a lack of humanitarian access but to insufficient funding, noting, 'This has been a lifeline. But now, rather than being able to sustain and scale up that assistance, we’re actually having to reduce it.'
Families receiving food assistance will now get only one food parcel instead of two, and a smaller bag of wheat flour. The 75,000 families who receive assistance in cash will see the amount reduced from 1,250 to 750 shekels ($400 to $240) per month.
The WFP is funded by governments and private donors, but has seen a sharp drop in resources, including after President Donald Trump returned to power and drastically slashed contributions to UN agencies and bilateral aid.
In September, the agency also reduced by half the number of aid recipients in the West Bank, which Israel has occupied since 1967, from 400,000 to 200,000.
Hughes concluded, 'Now is not the time in the history of Palestine and Gaza to turn away from what is happening in Gaza.'
People are not safe. Airstrikes continue on a daily basis. People continue to be displaced.
Shaun Hughes, WFP country director
This has been a lifeline. But now, rather than being able to sustain and scale up that assistance, we’re actually having to reduce it.
Shaun Hughes, WFP country director
