The World Food Programme (WFP) has announced that it will have to cut its food assistance in Gaza from October 1 due to a shortage of funding. The programme had been providing support to around 1.5 million people per month on average until August 2026. However, due to funding constraints, it will have to reduce the number of beneficiaries to around 1.1 million people from October. The majority of the cuts will be in direct food assistance, with the number of beneficiaries decreasing from 1.1 million to 600,000.
The WFP provides assistance in Gaza through various activities, including distribution of food parcels, wheat flour, bread, and hot meals, as well as school snacks and nutritional support. The programme's emergency coordinator in Gaza, Wilii Niioko, stated that the funding crisis will not only reduce the number of people receiving assistance but also decrease the amount of food provided to families and the value of cash assistance. The WFP had already reduced the value of cash assistance by 40% for 375,000 people in July due to funding shortages.
The reduction in aid comes at a time when the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis indicates that over 1.4 million people, or around 67% of Gaza's population, are expected to face acute food insecurity at the crisis level or worse from July to December 2026. Around 212,000 people are expected to be in emergency situations. The IPC analysis also notes that the improvement in food security and nutrition since the ceasefire in October 2025 is fragile and may deteriorate quickly if humanitarian assistance is reduced.
The WFP has called for urgent funding to support its operations in Gaza and the West Bank. The programme requires an additional $386 million over the next six months to provide assistance to around 2 million people facing food insecurity. The WFP emphasizes that sustaining the improvement in food security in Gaza requires continued humanitarian assistance and predictable funding.
The reduction in aid will have significant implications for the most vulnerable populations in Gaza. The WFP's Niioko noted that some families will receive less food or cash assistance than before, despite the programme's efforts to reach as many people as possible with available resources. The situation is expected to worsen if funding is not secured.
The Egyptian Radio and Television Union reported that the WFP's reduction in aid will affect the lives of thousands of people in Gaza. The programme's operations in Gaza are critical to addressing the humanitarian needs of the population. The international community has been urged to provide support to the WFP's efforts in Gaza and the West Bank.
The WFP's reduction in aid in Gaza highlights the need for sustained humanitarian assistance to address the ongoing food insecurity crisis in the region. The programme's efforts to provide assistance to those in need are critical, and funding is essential to ensure the continuation of its operations.
Key points
- The World Food Programme will have to cut its food assistance in Gaza from October 1 due to a funding shortage, affecting around 1.1 million people.
- The reduction in aid comes at a time when over 1.4 million people in Gaza face acute food insecurity, with 212,000 people in emergency situations.
- The WFP requires an additional $386 million over the next six months to provide assistance to around 2 million people facing food insecurity in Gaza and the West Bank.
