The World Food Programme (WFP) has confirmed significant reductions to its aid operations in Gaza, a move that leaves approximately 500,000 people without essential food support. The UN agency, which had been providing monthly assistance to 1.6 million people, announced on Monday that it is forced to scale back its relief efforts following a substantial decline in available funding. According to the agency, it has received less than half the funding required for its 2026 operations compared to previous years, leaving it with a massive financial gap.
To manage the current resources, the WFP has outlined several austerity measures affecting the most vulnerable populations in the territory. The number of people receiving monthly assistance is being reduced from 1.6 million to 1.1 million. Furthermore, families who continue to receive aid will see their rations halved; where households previously received two food parcels, they will now be limited to one, and the size of flour bags provided will also be reduced. The organization stated it urgently requires $450 million to maintain its minimum critical operations over the coming six months.
The impact of these cuts extends to the daily provision of hot meals, which will see a decrease from 250,000 to 150,000 meals per day. For families residing in difficult-to-reach zones, specifically those located near the boundary often referred to as the “yellow line” demarcating Israeli military control, access to nourishment will be further restricted. These families will now receive hot meals every other day rather than the daily service they previously relied upon.
These developments unfold against a backdrop of prolonged conflict, which has decimated Gaza’s infrastructure, economy, healthcare, and education sectors. Since the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, the region has been trapped in a war that has made the acquisition of basic necessities like food, water, and shelter a daily struggle for the majority of the population. Official figures from Gaza’s health ministry indicate that more than 74,245 Palestinians have been killed during this period.
Current UN data reveals a grim reality for those remaining in the territory, with over 80 percent of the population reported as unemployed and unable to purchase fresh or nutrient-dense food, even when it is available in local markets. Nutritional deficits are particularly severe among children, with only one in five receiving a sufficiently diverse diet. Limited access to medical and health services further complicates the situation, as the population struggles to maintain basic physical well-being.
While recent estimates suggested a slight improvement in food security—with the number of people experiencing acute food insecurity dropping from 1.6 million at the end of 2025 to 1.4 million currently—the WFP cautioned that this progress is “modest and fragile.” The current funding crisis threatens to reverse these hard-won gains, pushing more families back into severe crisis levels.
This crisis is not limited to Gaza alone. Similar funding shortfalls have already forced the WFP to curtail its activities in the occupied West Bank. In September, the number of beneficiaries in that region was halved, dropping from 400,000 to 200,000. As the WFP continues to appeal for donor support, the humanitarian situation for millions of Palestinians remains precarious, with limited immediate solutions to address the shortfall in critical supplies.
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