On 2026-10-19 the World Food Programme (WFP) declared that it would halt food aid for more than 500,000 Palestinians in Gaza. The announcement came from the agency’s representatives in the territory and was echoed across multiple UN communications released that day. The decision was described as a direct response to funding shortages that have hampered the organisation’s ability to maintain its previous level of support.
Before the cut, the WFP was providing aid to 1.6 million recipients in Gaza. After the announcement, that number fell to 1.1 million. The difference of 500,000 people represents those who will no longer receive regular food assistance. The agency also said it would halve the size of food packages and end cash transfers to 75,000 families. Daily hot meals, which had been distributed to 2.5 million individuals, were reduced to 1.5 million. In terms of monthly food assistance, the number of people receiving support dropped from 1.6 million to 1.1 million, leaving 500,000 without that monthly aid.
World Food Programme cuts aid to 500,000 Palestinians in Gaza, cites funding shortages https://t.co/s7RnEeQuGW https://t.co/s7RnEeQuGW
Carl Skau, the WFP’s acting Executive Director, spoke about the situation on the ground. He said, "It’s a year into the agreement of this ceasefire. Well, life is still brutal here. There is no proper shelter. There is no basic services. There is no safety, no security." He added, "These cuts are happening just as we are facing the fourth winter. You know, I’ve been through the winters here, absolutely brutal."
This amount is described as necessary to sustain the current level of aid and to avoid further reductions.
Shaun Hughes, the WFP country director, conveyed a similar urgency in both English and French. In English he stated, "As of this month, we're now cutting half a million people from the number of people that we're assisting." In French he warned, "Ce n’est pas le moment de détourner le regard de ce qui se passe à Gaza."
The WFP said it urgently needs $450 million to keep funding its critical operations in Gaza and the Israeli‑occupied West Bank over the next six months. This amount is described as necessary to sustain the current level of aid and to avoid further reductions.
Even before the reduction, a significant portion of Gaza’s population faced acute hardship. 1.4 million people out of a total of 2.1 million were experiencing crisis‑level food insecurity or worse since the start of the Israeli offensive. Additionally, 200,000 people in the West Bank were receiving food assistance from the WFP. The agency also reported that 74,480 Palestinians had been killed by Israel in Gaza since the ceasefire, a figure that underscores the ongoing violence affecting civilians.
The WFP’s announcement on 2026-10-19 marks a pivotal moment in the humanitarian response. With half a million Palestinians now cut off from regular food aid, the agency warns that living conditions will deteriorate further unless the funding gap is closed. The statement from Carl Skau about the ongoing brutality and the coming winter highlights the urgency of the situation. As of the date of the announcement, the WFP continues to call for the implementation of the US‑mediated ceasefire agreement and for donor support to meet the $450 million requirement.
World Food Programme stops provision to half a million people in Gaza over lack of funding https://t.co/gK9elzNOlW