The World Food Programme (WFP) announced it has run out of food in the Gaza Strip, following Israel’s blockade that started on March 2. This blockade has halted the entry of humanitarian and commercial supplies, leaving WFP as the primary source of hot meals. The last food stocks were delivered to hot meal kitchens, which are expected to deplete soon.
Smaller agencies like World Central Kitchen still operate, but overall assistance has plummeted, with 116,000 tons of food stranded at aid corridors. This closure marks the longest period of blockade in Gaza’s history, worsening already fragile food systems. The WFP highlighted growing desperation among civilians, noting that former progress during a prior ceasefire has unraveled.
Israel justifies the blockade as a tactic against Hamas, claiming no aid shortage exists, yet the WFP and other humanitarian groups warn that starvation tactics may constitute war crimes. Currently, over 2 million residents face severe food insecurity, raising concerns about malnutrition, particularly among vulnerable groups, including children and pregnant women.
WFP reported an alarming increase in acute malnutrition cases among children, with thousands affected in a short span. Meanwhile, food prices have skyrocketed, forcing people to scavenge for cooking fuels. The ongoing crisis has led to an estimated 51,000 fatalities, including many children, since the current conflict began on October 7.
International response has called for the resumption of humanitarian aid, with foreign ministers from France, Germany, and the UK urging Israel to facilitate aid flow to avert a potential famine impacting millions of civilians in Gaza.
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