Three weeks into the ceasefire, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has successfully distributed food parcels to one million people in the Gaza Strip as part of its ongoing efforts to combat hunger in the war-affected region. However, to further scale up these operations and meet the needs of the population, WFP stresses the urgent need for additional border crossings and unrestricted access to key roads within Gaza.
Since the ceasefire began, WFP has reached one million individuals with family food parcels—each sufficient for 10 days—out of its target of 1.6 million. This marks the first round of regular food distributions since April. Currently, there are 44 active food distribution points across Gaza, with plans to expand to 145. About 700,000 people receive fresh bread daily from 17 WFP-supported bakeries, while efforts continue to raise that number to 25. In October, nearly 200,000 people benefited from digital cash payments to purchase food and essentials, achieving the full monthly target. Furthermore, over 150,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women and young children received vital nutrition supplements, while 70,000 schoolchildren were provided with nutritious snacks such as date bars and high-energy biscuits.
Operational challenges continue to hamper aid delivery. Only two border crossings into Gaza are currently open, drastically limiting the volume of humanitarian assistance. The closure of northern crossings has made it difficult to transport food to the most vulnerable populations, forcing aid convoys to rely on slower southern routes. Since the start of the ceasefire, WFP has delivered about 20,000 metric tons of food—just half of its monthly goal. The destruction of infrastructure, including over 50 percent of warehouses, has further hindered logistics and storage capacity. WFP emphasizes that reopening all crossings, particularly in the north, and restoring access to key internal roads are essential for effective aid delivery.
Food security in Gaza remains precarious despite some modest improvements in food availability since the ceasefire. After two years of conflict, months of blockade, and limited food supplies, many families are still struggling to access adequate nutrition. Hundreds of thousands of people have returned to northern Gaza to find their homes destroyed, while displaced families in the south continue to live in tents with little access to food and essential services. Although food prices have decreased slightly since the ceasefire due to anticipated aid inflows, they remain significantly higher than pre-conflict levels. Persistent liquidity constraints and high cash withdrawal fees—ranging between 20 and 24 percent—continue to limit people’s ability to buy food and other necessities.
Overall, WFP warns that while progress has been made in reaching those in need, sustained humanitarian access and resource mobilization are critical to preventing further deterioration in food security across Gaza.
