The food crisis in the besieged Gaza Strip of Palestine is taking a more severe turn. According to data from the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), approximately 1.4 million people in the strip are facing a severe food crisis. The reduction in food aid further heightens fears of the crisis worsening.
WFP announced that due to funding shortfalls, they are forced to reduce their food assistance operations in Gaza by one-third. This could leave approximately 500,000 people without aid. Additionally, vulnerable families are now receiving only half the amount of food assistance they previously did.
Highlighting the current situation in Gaza, WFP’s Country Director Sean Hughes told Agence France-Presse (AFP) that people in the strip are still not safe. Airstrikes are ongoing daily, and residents are constantly being forced to move from one place to another.
He stated that very few people in Gaza have access to permanent, habitable homes. The humanitarian situation there is extremely dire.
Due to war and repeated displacements, many families in Gaza were already deprived of food, shelter, and essential services. With the reduction in food aid, it will become even more challenging for these families to secure even minimal sustenance.
Meanwhile, Israel has continued to block the entry of commercial goods into Gaza amidst the humanitarian crisis. This raises growing concerns about the supply of food and other essential commodities.
According to WFP, ensuring regular food supply and humanitarian assistance is crucial to tackle the food crisis among Gaza’s residents. Without increased funding and supply of goods, the food crisis in the strip could intensify further.
Source: Anadolu Agency
