UN ends aid to 500,000 in Gaza due to funding shortfall
UN agency cuts food aid for 500,000 Gazans as funding drops.
In brief
UN agency cuts food aid for 500,000 Gazans as funding drops. World Food Programme will stop monthly aid to 500,000 people in Gaza because of insufficient funding. Originally reported by Dawn.
UN agency to end aid
World Food Programme will end monthly assistance to 500,000 people in Gaza due to funding shortfall.
1.1 million affected
1.1 million Palestinians in Gaza will receive reduced food or cash assistance each month.
WFP country director
Shaun Hughes, WFP country director, warned conditions remain brutal in Gaza.
“People are not safe. Airstrikes continue on a daily basis. People continue to be displaced.”
Acute food insecurity
1.4 million people in Gaza are 'acutely food insecure' and need humanitarian assistance.
Famine classification lifted
UN lifted Gaza’s famine classification in December after ceasefire announcement.
WFP assistance scale
WFP reached 1.5 to 1.8 million people monthly before funding cuts.
Reduced aid packages
Families get one food parcel instead of two and smaller wheat flour bags.
Cash aid cuts
Cash recipients get reduced from 1,250 to 750 shekels ($400 to $240) per month.
Funding shortfall
WFP needs $450 million over six months but received half usual funding.
West Bank aid cuts
WFP reduced West Bank aid recipients from 400,000 to 200,000 in September.
WFP warning
WFP says conditions have moderately improved but winter could worsen needs.
The bottom line
World Food Programme will stop monthly aid to 500,000 people in Gaza because of insufficient funding.
