In brief
As the Israeli blockade continues, the World Food Programme has run out of food aid in Gaza, which puts millions at risk of starvation and exacerbates existing health crises.
The World Food Programme (WFP) has announced that it has completely depleted its food stocks in Gaza, where an Israeli blockade has hindered humanitarian aid for over seven weeks. On Friday, the WFP delivered its last remaining supplies to hot meals kitchens, which are set to run out of food imminently. Israel initially cut off aid on March 2 and later resumed military offensives following the collapse of a two-month ceasefire to pressure Hamas into releasing hostages. According to the UN, Israel has a responsibility under international law to provide for the 2.1 million Palestinians in Gaza. However, Israeli authorities maintain that they are complying with legal requirements and assert that there is no aid deficit. By the end of March, all bakeries supported by the WFP had to close due to shortages of wheat flour and cooking fuel. Food parcels distributed to families, which typically contained enough rations for two weeks, have also been exhausted.The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported critical shortages of medicine, medical supplies, and hospital equipment, all while fuel shortages hinder water production and distribution. As food prices have surged by up to 1,400% since the ceasefire ended, there are alarming nutrition concerns for vulnerable groups, such as children under five and pregnant or breastfeeding women.While hot meal kitchens have become vital for many, they are only able to reach about half of the population, fulfilling a mere 25% of daily food needs. The WFP warns that the humanitarian situation in Gaza is at a breaking point, emphasizing the need for urgent action to allow aid and trade to flow into the region. The agency calls on all involved parties to prioritize civilian needs, open borders for assistance, and uphold international humanitarian law. Additionally, over 116,000 tonnes of food aid are currently available at aid corridors, awaiting the reopening of Gaza's border crossings by Israel.Despite recent criticisms from UK, France, and Germany calling for an end to the blockade, the Israeli Foreign Ministry stated that more than 25,000 trucks carrying almost 450,000 tonnes of aid entered Gaza during the previous ceasefire, insisting that aid is not lacking. They claimed no obligation to permit aid entry, alleging that Hamas had appropriated supplies for military use—a point Hamas has denied. Amid these developments, Hamas recently rejected an Israeli proposal for a new ceasefire that included disarmament and hostages’ release, maintaining that it would only negotiate an end to the conflict in exchange for a complete Israeli withdrawal.Since the Israel-Hamas war escalated following an unprecedented cross-border attack on October 7, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people and 251 hostages, the death toll in Gaza has reportedly exceeded 51,439 according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
