Nearly 1.4 million people in Gaza are suffering from severe food shortages, and aid workers warn that the situation is about to get worse. Although a U.S.-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has been in place for a year, the United Nations World Food Programme says a lack of funding is forcing it to cut emergency help.
Carl Skau, the acting executive director of the World Food Programme, recently returned from a visit to Gaza. He described daily life there as "absolutely brutal," pointing to heavy destruction, lack of basic services, and persistent danger. At aid distribution centers, workers serve hot meals from large pots to families who have no cooking gas of their own. Many displaced residents told Skau that they eat only once a day and have no fresh vegetables.
Over the past few months, the agency managed to feed about two million people each month, which helped push back famine. However, running such a massive operation is expensive. Because international donors have not supplied enough money, the agency must cut roughly 500,000 people off food assistance in the coming weeks.
The planned cuts come at a critical moment as winter approaches, bringing cold weather and rain that will make living conditions even harder. Skau warned that losing food aid will put intense pressure on vulnerable families, and he called on international donors to provide funding before the fragile progress in Gaza is lost.