Funding crisis: WFP cuts food aid to 500,000 in Gaza

The UN World Food Programme (WFP) has said funding shortages are forcing major cuts to its aid programme in Gaza, leaving about 500,000 people without monthly food support in a territory where two-thirds of the population struggle to get enough to eat.

The WFP said it was reducing the number of recipients of its monthly assistance to 1.1 million people from 1.6 million.

In addition, food rations have been halved, cash assistance has been cut for 75,000 families, and the number of daily hot meals for those unable to cook has fallen to 150,000 from 250,000, with some families in hard-to-reach areas now receiving a hot meal only every other day.

The WFP said about 1.4 million people face crisis levels of food insecurity or worse.