Gaza before winter: World Food Programme cuts aid to 500,000 people
Short of funds, WFP is halving rations and will reach 1.1 million instead of 1.6 million people. Gaza's media office calls the decision “catastrophic”.
Archive image · Photo: Jaber Jehad Badwan / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped and resized)
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is sharply cutting food aid in the Gaza Strip because of funding shortages. About 500,000 people will lose monthly support, with WFP now reaching 1.1 million instead of 1.6 million people. Rations are being halved and cash assistance for 75,000 families reduced. Daily hot meals will drop from 250,000 to 150,000.
“As we're now entering winter, I'm really worried,” acting WFP chief Carl Skau told Australia's ABC. He cited funding gaps, the size and cost of the operation and growing needs in other crises. WFP says it urgently needs $450 million over the next six months for Gaza and the West Bank.
About 1.4 million people in Gaza face crisis-level food insecurity or worse, according to WFP. Gaza's government media office called the cut “catastrophic”. Israel's military liaison body COGAT said Gaza is “flooded with humanitarian aid and food supplies”.