World Food Programme cuts Gaza aid for 500,000 people amid funding gap

Announcement of Aid Reduction The United Nations’ World Food Programme (WFP) said on Monday it would end monthly assistance to 500,000 people in Gaza, citing a funding shortfall that has forced the agency to cut its programme.

Scale of the Cut The decision reduces the total number of Palestinians receiving WFP aid from 1.6 million to 1.1 million. The cut means that half a million people will no longer receive the food rations or cash assistance that have been provided each month.

Specific Reductions In addition to the loss of recipients, the WFP will halve the quantity of food rations distributed, cut cash assistance for 75,000 families, and reduce the daily hot‑meal service from 250,000 to 150,000 meals. Some hard‑to‑reach families will now receive a hot meal only every other day.

Funding Gap and Urgent Needs The agency has highlighted that it requires about US$450 million over the next six months to keep essential operations running in Gaza and the Israeli‑occupied West Bank. The WFP warned that conditions remain “brutal” as winter approaches and basic services remain scarce.

Food Insecurity Context According to the latest assessments, roughly 1.4 million people in Gaza—about two‑thirds of the territory’s population—are experiencing crisis‑level food insecurity or worse. Around 200,000 of those are in emergency conditions, needing immediate assistance.

WFP’s Position Shaun Hughes, the WFP country director, explained that the agency’s efforts had previously mitigated famine conditions that were reported last year, but that the situation has not improved enough to allow the withdrawal of aid. He noted that people remain unsafe, with daily airstrikes and ongoing displacement.

Call for Support The WFP urged the international community to step up funding to preserve the progress made since the ceasefire and to prevent a return to famine‑like conditions. The agency’s statement emphasised that the time is now to maintain and expand support for those still struggling to survive.

Conclusion The reduction in aid will leave 500,000 Palestinians without monthly food support and will further strain an already fragile humanitarian environment. The WFP’s call for additional funding underscores the urgency of addressing the crisis before the winter season worsens living conditions across Gaza.