The World Food Programme (WFP) has announced it will cut food aid to 500,000 Palestinians in Gaza, citing a shortfall in funding that threatens to undo the modest gains made in the region’s food security.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the UN agency said that the reduction in assistance would affect the number of households receiving regular food parcels and cash vouchers, which have been critical in keeping families fed amid the ongoing blockade and conflict.
WFP officials warned that the funding gap could reverse the “modest and fragile” progress achieved over the past months. The agency has been relying on voluntary contributions from governments and private donors to maintain its operations in the densely populated enclave.
With fewer resources, the programme will be forced to scale back the distribution of staple foods, such as rice, flour and cooking oil, and to reduce the amount of cash assistance available to vulnerable groups, including children, the elderly and people with disabilities.
Gaza’s food security situation has deteriorated sharply since the 2024 escalation, with over 70% of the population facing food insecurity. The WFP’s cut comes at a time when the United Nations has called for increased humanitarian aid to prevent a looming crisis.
<small>Source: Al Jazeera — read the original story there.</small>
