Gaza on the brink: WFP warns of catastrophic hunger crisis as food stocks run out

The UN World Food Programme (WFP) issues a stark warning as its last remaining food stocks in the Gaza Strip have been distributed. According to the organization, no new humanitarian or commercial supplies have entered the region for more than seven weeks, while the price of basic foodstuffs continues to rise.

WFP stresses that Gaza’s food aid system is on the verge of total collapse, as the final shipments were delivered to hot meal kitchens — the last reliable source of food assistance for Gazans.

Though they served only half the population and met just a quarter of daily nutritional needs, these kitchens have been a critical lifeline. WFP now expects them to run out of food entirely within days.

“This is the longest border closure Gaza has ever faced, and people are running out of options to survive,” a WFP official underscores. “Without immediate access to aid, we fear a humanitarian catastrophe.”

Bakeries close, prices soar

Earlier this month, WFP-supported bakeries that provide subsidized bread across Gaza shut down due to the depletion of wheat flour and cooking fuel. The distribution of food parcels has also ceased, leaving families without essential rations.

Moreover, safe drinking water and fuel for cooking are scarce, forcing residents to scavenge for burnable materials to prepare meager meals.

At the same time, WFP emphasizes that food prices have surged by as much as 1,400% since the end of the last ceasefire, with markets unable to function and basic staples becoming unaffordable or unavailable. Vulnerable groups such as young children, pregnant women, and the elderly are now at extreme risk of malnutrition.

Meanwhile, more than 116,000 metric tons of food assistance — enough to feed a million people for up to four months — sits stalled at border crossings. The food is ready for immediate delivery if Israel lifts the blockades and grants access.

UN calls for opening of borders

The WFP is calling for urgent international action to reopen Gaza’s borders and allow the entry of food, water, and fuel. It has also appealed to all parties to prioritize humanitarian needs and uphold their obligations under international law.

“The fragile gains made during the ceasefire have unraveled. Gaza is once again at a breaking point,” WFP warns. “Unless aid is allowed in immediately, we may be forced to halt operations altogether — with devastating consequences.”