The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) announced that it would cease providing monthly assistance to 500,000 individuals in Gaza due to a funding shortfall, affecting roughly half of the 1.1 million Palestinians living in the region. This decision, announced on October 19, 2026, underscores the ongoing challenges faced by the Palestinian population in accessing essential resources despite the funding shortfall.
Key points
The WFP's decision to cease assistance is temporary.: The WFP's decision to cease assistance is temporary.
The needs in Gaza remain acute despite the funding shortfall.: The needs in Gaza remain acute despite the funding shortfall.
This move underscores the ongoing challenges faced by the Palestinian population in acces…: This move underscores the ongoing challenges faced by the Palestinian population in accessing essential resources.
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World Food Programme says ending aid for half million in Gaza due to funding shortfall
19 October 2026 12:07 BST
The UN's World Food Programme said Monday it would end monthly assistance to 500,000 people in Gaza due to a funding shortfall, while warning that needs remained acute.
"As of this month, we're now cutting half a million people from the number of people that we're assisting," Shaun Hughes, the WFP country director, told AFP.
The reductions bring down to 1.1 million people -- still roughly half of war-battered Gaza's population -- the number of Palestinians receiving WFP aid either in food or cash assistance.
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