Gaza: World Food Programme reduces aid by a third

Palestinians in Gaza receive World Food Programme food donations

The World Food Programme (WFP) draws consequences from lost revenue. According to the program, this now has an impact on people in need in the Gaza Strip.

Around half a million Palestinians in the war-torn area are no longer receiving aid, a statement said. The reason for the cut in food assistance by around a third are financing gaps. As of this month, the UN organization will support 1.1 million people.

Since the ceasefire agreement began in October 2025, it has supplied around 1.6 million Palestinians every month with food packages, bread and cash. “WFP no longer has sufficient funding to maintain this level of support,” the organization said.

Those who continued to receive support are now also receiving less help. The organization cut food rations by half. Even hot meals would now be distributed less often.

The WFP had already reported a lack of funding in March 2025. According to information on the website of the WFP, the UN organization received until the 24. In March 2025, only 1.57 billion dollars in funding. For the entire year 2024, the WFP had received $ 9.75 billion. The WFP did not blame individual countries at the time. However, a breakdown on the WFP website showed that the US and Germany, for example, had drastically cut their aid.

According to WFP figures, about 67 percent of the population in Gaza suffer from acute hunger “or worse.” The IPC (Integrated Food Security Phase Classification) initiative, which monitors food crises around the world, no longer sees the area affected by famine. Nevertheless, the population of the Gaza Strip is severely affected by acute malnutrition and food insecurity.

The Israeli authority responsible for Palestinian affairs, Cogat, in turn, emphasizes that the amount of aid delivered exceeds the food needs of the population. There is no acute food insecurity in Gaza.

Worldwide, as many people do not go hungry for a long time, at the same time, wealthy countries help less and less. Last November, the deputy head of the UN World Food Programme explained why Germany was also to blame: Read the SPIEGEL interview here.