WFP scales up life saving food assistance as ceasefire unfolds

After two years of devastating conflict, hundreds of thousands of families remain displaced with food systems shattered, and access to basic necessities severely limited. With full access, WFP intends to restore its regular food distribution system, scaling assistance through 145 distribution points across the Strip.

In the first three months, as part of its general food distributions, WFP aims to feed up to 1.6 million people (roughly 320,000 families) with bread, wheat flour and family food parcels. WFP will scale up the number of bakeries it currently supports from 10 to 30 in the coming weeks, dramatically increasing access to fresh bread. Today 100,000 bundles (2kg) of fresh bread are being produced daily for communities in need. Additionally, WFP will expand its nutritional support for pregnant and breastfeeding women, which the agency has already been increasing over the past few weeks.

Support for those most food insecure, such as women, widows, single mothers, children, elderly and those with disabilities, who might not yet be able to travel to food distribution points, will also be supported through digital payments. Roughly 140,000 people have already benefited from these payments, which allow for the purchase of food in local markets. WFP plans to double the program in the coming weeks.

WFP will continue to lead on logistics support for the broader humanitarian system, as well as helping to provide emergency telecoms and coordination for the food security sector for maximum reach with partners.

Over 170,000 metric tons of food commodities managed by WFP are ready for dispatch now or on route, via Ashdod, Egypt, Jordan, and the West Bank corridors. That's enough staple food to feed the entire Gaza population of more than two million people for a up to three months. But to deliver at scale, WFP requires fast, efficient use of all entry points, secure and unhindered humanitarian access, rehabilitation of vital infrastructure and storage facilities, and faster clearance protocols at the Ashdod port.

In Gaza, given constant displacement and the vulnerability of populations, it is critical to reach people wherever they are. Despite the many challenges, WFP has worked tirelessly to adapt its operations to the changing conditions on the ground. While there have been pockets of progress at times, the humanitarian needs in Gaza have never been greater. We need the ceasefire to hold, and issues related to law and order inside Gaza to be fully addressed as part of the 'day after' discussions. With a full implementation of the ceasefire, WFP can operate at the scale needed for a crisis of this magnitude, while supporting its partners on the ground.

We must act now - there is no time to waste.

Notes to editor:

Download broadcast quality video and shotlist here

# # #

The United Nations World Food Programme is the world's largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

Follow us on X, formerly Twitter, via @wfp_media add your local Twitter handle, if relevant