The United Nations World Food Programme has reduced its monthly food assistance in Gaza by roughly one third because of a funding shortage, cutting the number of people reached from 1.6 million to 1.1 million. About 500,000 people have therefore lost access to regular monthly support. The reductions are taking effect as winter approaches and as the agency warns that recent, modest improvements in food security remain fragile.
According to WFP’s current State of Palestine emergency page, 1.4 million people in Gaza—about two thirds of the population—are facing crisis or worse levels of acute food insecurity. The agency warns that as much as 90 percent of Gaza’s population could face high levels of acute food insecurity by the end of 2026 if conditions deteriorate. WFP says it urgently needs $450 million to maintain critical operations in Gaza and the West Bank through March 2027.
Food parcels and hot meals reduced
The change goes beyond the overall number of recipients. Families receiving food parcels will now receive one package instead of two, along with a smaller bag of wheat flour. WFP has cut the number of hot meals it provides each day from 250,000 to 150,000. In hard-to-reach areas, including places near the line of Israeli military control, some families will receive a hot meal every other day rather than daily.
The value of cash assistance has also been reduced for 75,000 families. WFP says it is still supporting bakeries that cover about one third of Gaza’s bread needs, providing nutrition assistance to women and children, and distributing school snacks to roughly 200,000 children. The programmes have not ended altogether, but they are operating at a smaller scale and with reduced benefits.
Independent reporting confirms the figures
Reuters confirmed that WFP lowered the monthly caseload from 1.6 million people to 1.1 million and reduced daily hot meals from 250,000 to 150,000. Its report said about 200,000 people are in emergency food-security conditions and that WFP is seeking $450 million for six months of operations. The Financial Times also reported that approximately half a million people would be affected and that the funding gap could reverse the limited progress made since the ceasefire.
The Guardian, citing WFP officials, reported that funding had fallen by more than half compared with 2025 and that the reductions were already being implemented in October. The figure of 500,000 refers to the difference between the previous 1.6 million recipients and the new 1.1 million monthly caseload. It is not the same measure as the total number of people facing food insecurity across Gaza.
Funding and access constraints overlap
WFP says the funding shortage is compounded by humanitarian and commercial inflows that remain below the level required. Kerem Shalom, also known as Kerem Abu Salem, remains the principal entry point for aid, increasing transport distances, storage demands and operating costs. The agency says food must enter Gaza in a steady and predictable flow, while longer-term recovery will also require the restoration of livelihoods and local markets.
The WFP announcement is not a new declaration of famine. It is a warning that a smaller assistance network will directly affect a large population already experiencing severe food insecurity. The duration of the cuts will depend on whether donors provide new funding and whether logistics and access conditions improve. Until then, the agency is prioritising the most vulnerable households while reducing the amount and frequency of support available to many families.
