Hunger Looms Again in Gaza as WFP Food Stocks Begin to Run Out

GAZA – Hundreds of thousands of people in Gaza are again at risk of extreme hunger and malnutrition as humanitarian food stocks in the Strip dwindle and borders remain closed to aid. Meanwhile, the expansion of military activity in Gaza is severely disrupting food assistance operations and putting the lives of aid workers at risk every day.

Here are the latest updates on food security and World Food Programme (WFP) operations in Gaza.

• WFP and partners from the food security sector have been unable to bring new food supplies into Gaza for more than three weeks. The closure of border crossings is blocking the entry of any commodities – humanitarian or commercial.
• WFP has over 12.5 million pounds of food stocks left in Gaza – enough to support WFP operations for a maximum of two weeks.
• With the deteriorating security situation, rapid displacement of people and growing needs, WFP has decided to distribute as much food as possible, as quickly as possible in Gaza.
• WFP operations currently support bakeries to produce bread, kitchens cooking hot meals and the distribution of food packages directly to families – each facing record low stocks inside Gaza:
  
  • Food packages: WFP is reducing food package rations to reach as many people as possible. WFP plans to distribute food packages to half a million people. The reduced size package will feed a family for roughly one week. 
  • Bakeries: Wheat flour supplies are sufficient to support bread production for 800,000 people for five days only. Currently 19 of 25 WFP-supported bakeries remain operational, and many struggle with severe crowd control issues as fear of bread shortages spreads throughout the Strip. Functioning bakeries are ramping up production, working 20% over capacity to respond to increased needs caused by renewed displacement of people.
  • Hot meals: WFP has supplies to support 37 kitchens across Gaza cooking 500,000 hot meals per day for the next two weeks. Two WFP-supported hot meal kitchens are currently inactive due to evacuation orders and general insecurity. 
  • Fortified biscuits: WFP has emergency stocks of fortified biscuits – enough for 415,000 people – which can be used as a last resort if all other food stocks are exhausted.   
• WFP and partners from the food security sector have positioned more than 187 million pounds of food commodities outside Gaza, ready to be brought in if border crossings are opened.
• WFP needs 66 million pounds of food per month to meet the basic needs of around 1.1 million people.
• Food prices have soared inside Gaza. The price of a 55-pound bag of wheat flour sells for up to $50, a 400% increase compared to pre-March 18 prices. Cooking gas prices have increased by 300% compared to February. 
• Security incidents affecting U.N. staff are escalating, and movement is severely restricted, resulting in significant disruptions to food assistance operations.
• WFP urges all parties to prioritize the needs of civilians, the protection of humanitarian workers and U.N. personnel, and access for aid to enter Gaza immediately. 
• WFP requires $265 million in funding over the next six months to support lifesaving operations that will assist 1.5 million people in Gaza and the West Bank.