UN Food Programme Cuts Aid to Gaza Amid Funding Shortage

The World Food Programme (WFP) has announced it will stop providing monthly food assistance to 500,000 people in Gaza because of a shortage of funding. This decision comes despite the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the region, where many people are in desperate need of help.

Currently, about 1.1 million Palestinians in Gaza will still receive some form of food or cash assistance each month, but in smaller amounts. The WFP had previously helped many people during a famine last year, but conditions have not improved enough to justify cutting aid, according to Shaun Hughes, the WFP country director.

Hughes stated that daily airstrikes continue to displace people and that many remain without permanent homes. He emphasized that the humanitarian situation remains severe, with around 1.4 million people, or two-thirds of Gaza’s population, facing food insecurity and needing assistance to survive.

In August of last year, the UN classified the situation in Gaza as famine, a claim that Israel disputed. Although the famine classification was lifted after a ceasefire in December, violence has continued, and the WFP has been able to assist between 1.5 million and 1.8 million people each month since then.

With the new cuts, families receiving food assistance will now receive only one food parcel instead of two, along with a smaller amount of wheat flour. Additionally, the cash aid for 75,000 families will decrease from 1,250 shekels (about $400) to 750 shekels (about $240) per month.

The WFP relies on funding from governments and private donors. However, financial support has significantly decreased, especially after changes in U.S. leadership. The agency has stated it needs around $450 million over the next six months to continue its operations in Gaza and the West Bank, but it has only received about half of the usual funding this year.

Hughes warned that now is not the time to reduce support for Gaza, especially with winter approaching, which could worsen conditions for those in need.