UN food agency cuts aid to half a million in Gaza as funding dries up

World Food Programme reduces rations and cash payments for remaining recipients despite ongoing humanitarian crisis

By LineZotpaper

Published19 October 2026

Read Time3 min

The World Food Programme will stop monthly assistance to 500,000 people in Gaza due to a funding shortfall, the UN agency announced Monday, leaving 1.1 million Palestinians, about half the territory's population, still receiving food or cash each month. The cuts come even as two-thirds of Gaza's population remains acutely food insecure, with the WFP citing reduced contributions from major donors including the United States.

Since the October 2025 ceasefire, the WFP had been reaching between 1.5 million and 1.8 million people per month in Gaza. Now, 500,000 will lose support entirely, while those still receiving aid will see rations halved: one food parcel instead of two, and a smaller bag of wheat flour. The 75,000 families receiving cash will see monthly payments drop from 1,250 to 750 shekels (from $400 to $240).

"This has been a lifeline. But now, rather than being able to sustain and scale up that assistance, we're actually having to reduce it," Shaun Hughes, the WFP's country director, told AFP in east Jerusalem. "And that's not because we don't have humanitarian access to deliver food; that's because we don't have funding."

Hughes said conditions had not improved enough to justify the cuts, noting that airstrikes continue daily and most people remain without permanent homes. The UN estimates 1.2 million people have lost their homes in Gaza. According to the latest assessments, 1.4 million people – two-thirds of the population – remain "acutely food insecure" and need aid to survive. The WFP warns that needs could rise with the onset of winter.

The funding shortfall is partly attributed to US President Donald Trump drastically cutting contributions to UN agencies. The WFP needs about $450 million over the next six months for Gaza and the West Bank, but has received only around half its usual funding for the Palestinian territories this year. In September, it already halved its assistance in the West Bank to 200,000 people.

In August 2025, the UN-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification declared famine conditions in Gaza, a finding Israel called a lie. That classification was lifted in December, two months after the ceasefire, though Israeli strikes have continued. Israel has allowed more goods into Gaza under the ceasefire but still blocks items it considers to have potential military use, including prosthetic limbs, according to the UN. Israel also accuses the UN of bias.

"Now is not the time in the history of Palestine and Gaza to turn away from what is happening in Gaza," Hughes said.

Analysis

Why This Matters

The cuts come when Gaza's population is still overwhelmingly food insecure, with winter approaching and humanitarian conditions described as brutal
The funding gap highlights the fragility of post-ceasefire recovery and the impact of major donor reductions on UN operations
Reduced aid could worsen an already dire humanitarian situation, potentially leading to renewed food insecurity crises

Background

Gaza has been devastated by conflict that began in October 2023, leading to widespread destruction and displacement. A US-brokered ceasefire in October 2025 halted major hostilities but did not end Israeli airstrikes or restrictions on goods. The WFP had been a key provider of food aid, but its resources have sharply declined due to reduced contributions from major donors, particularly the United States under President Trump. The territory's economy and infrastructure remain shattered, with most of the population dependent on aid.

Key Perspectives

World Food Programme: The agency says it is forced to cut because of a funding shortfall, not lack of humanitarian access, and that conditions have not improved enough to justify reductions. Country director Shaun Hughes warns against turning away from Gaza's needs. Israeli government: Not directly quoted in this report, but Israel has previously rejected famine classifications as a lie, blocked items it considers of military use (including prosthetic limbs), and accuses the UN of bias. It has allowed more goods in under the ceasefire. Recipients of aid: The 500,000 losing support face even greater hardship; those remaining get smaller rations and cash, despite ongoing displacement and insecurity.

What to Watch

Whether the WFP can secure additional funding in the next six months; its appeal for $450 million is only half met so far
The onset of winter and its impact on already vulnerable populations, potentially increasing needs
Ongoing airstrikes and displacement: if conditions deteriorate, food insecurity could spike again

Sources

UN food agency to cut aid to 500,000 people in Gaza as funding dries up · Euronews

Checked

12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 9 supported.

Show each claim

Partly supportedHeadline: the UN food agency 'cuts aid to half a million in Gaza as funding dries up'. The 500,000 people lose aid entirely, not just a cut.Euronews: “The World Food Programme will stop monthly assistance to half a million people in Gaza because of a funding shortfall, the UN agency said on Monday.”
SupportedSummary: the WFP reduces rations and cash payments for remaining recipients despite the ongoing humanitarian crisis.Euronews: “Families who keep their support will get smaller rations and less cash, even though two-thirds of the territory’s population still needs help to survive.”
SupportedThe WFP will stop monthly assistance to 500,000 people in Gaza because of a funding shortfall, announced Monday.Euronews: “The World Food Programme will stop monthly assistance to half a million people in Gaza because of a funding shortfall, the UN agency said on Monday.”
Supported1.1 million Palestinians, about half the territory's population, still receive food or cash each month.Euronews: “The cuts leave 1.1 million Palestinians, around half of Gaza’s population, receiving food or cash each month.”
SupportedQuote: 'This has been a lifeline. But now, rather than being able to sustain and scale up that assistance, we're actually having to reduce it,' said Shaun Hughes, the WFP's country director, to AFP in east Jerusalem.Euronews: ““This has been a lifeline. But now, rather than being able to sustain and scale up that assistance, we’re actually having to reduce it,” Shaun Hughes, the WFP’s country director, told AFP in east Jerusalem.”
SupportedQuote: 'And that's not because we don't have humanitarian access to deliver food; that's because we don't have funding.'Euronews: “And that’s not because we don’t have humanitarian access to deliver food; that’s because we don’t have funding.”
Partly supportedThe funding shortfall is partly attributed to US President Donald Trump drastically cutting contributions to UN agencies; the WFP cited reduced contributions from major donors including the US.Euronews: “The WFP’s resources have fallen sharply, partly because US President Donald Trump drastically cut contributions to UN agencies.”
SupportedSince the October 2025 ceasefire, the WFP had been reaching 1.5 million to 1.8 million people a month in Gaza.Euronews: “Since the October 2025 ceasefire, the WFP had been reaching between 1.5 million and 1.8 million people a month.”
SupportedThe 75,000 families receiving cash will see monthly payments drop from 1,250 to 750 shekels ($400 to $240).Euronews: “The 75,000 families who receive cash will see monthly payments fall from 1,250 to 750 shekels ($400 to $240).”
Partly supportedHughes said 'Almost everybody' lacks a permanent home; the story says 'most people remain without permanent homes'.Euronews: ““Almost everybody remains without a permanent home to live in.”
SupportedTwo-thirds of Gaza's population (1.4 million people) remains acutely food insecure and needs aid to survive, per the latest assessments.Euronews: “According to the latest assessments, 1.4 million people, two-thirds of the population, remain “acutely food insecure” and need aid to survive.”
SupportedThe WFP needs about $450 million over the next six months for Gaza and the West Bank, and has received only around half its usual funding for the Palestinian territories this year.Euronews: “It needs about $450 million over the next six months for Gaza and the West Bank, but has received only around half its usual funding for the Palestinian territories this year.”