The World Food Programme (WFP) has raised grave concerns over an escalating hunger emergency in Gaza, warning that nearly one in three residents are now enduring days without food, and more than 90,000 women and children require immediate treatment for severe malnutrition.
In a stark statement, the agency emphasized that only a large-scale expansion of food aid can help stabilize what it called a “spiraling situation,” calm widespread panic, and restore trust among civilians who are desperate for signs that help is coming.
With food prices soaring—flour now costing over $100 per kilogram—the WFP said most people in Gaza rely entirely on aid to survive.
The organization also condemned a deadly attack on one of its aid convoys. A 25-truck shipment, which had entered northern Gaza via the Zikim crossing, came under fire from Israeli forces shortly after passing the final checkpoint. As starving civilians gathered around the convoy, they were reportedly targeted by tanks and snipers. The WFP described the incident as “tragic,” saying it resulted in numerous deaths and left many others critically wounded.
“These were people trying to access food for their starving families,” the agency stated. “This attack underscores the increasingly dangerous conditions under which humanitarian workers must operate in Gaza.”
The WFP said the attack occurred despite assurances from Israeli authorities that humanitarian corridors would be secure and free of military presence. Reiterating its demand for the protection of aid convoys, the agency called for an immediate halt to violence near humanitarian missions and food distribution points.
“There should never be armed actors near our convoys,” it stressed. “Any violence involving civilians seeking humanitarian aid is completely unacceptable.”
Maintaining its commitment to humanitarian principles of neutrality, impartiality, and independence, the WFP urged all parties to the conflict to guarantee safe, unimpeded, and consistent access to those in need across Gaza.
“A ceasefire is long overdue,” the agency added, calling for the release of all hostages and unrestricted humanitarian access. “We are ready to respond—we have food stocks nearby, skilled teams on the ground, and systems in place to scale up operations immediately.”
Since Israel’s closure of Gaza’s main crossings on March 2, the flow of food, medical, and humanitarian supplies has slowed to a trickle. The blockade has drawn international condemnation, with critics accusing Israel of weaponizing starvation against the enclave’s 2.3 million residents.
The Palestinian Ministry of Health reported 15 new deaths from hunger and malnutrition in the past 24 hours alone, including four children. The total number of starvation-related fatalities since October 2023 has now reached 101, of which 80 were children.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) has also warned that over one million children in Gaza are facing severe hunger as Israel continues to restrict humanitarian deliveries.
According to the latest figures, more than 59,000 Palestinians—primarily women and children—have been killed since Israel launched its military offensive on Gaza on October 7, 2023. An additional 142,135 people have been injured. However, these numbers remain incomplete, as many victims remain trapped under rubble or stranded in areas inaccessible to rescue teams due to ongoing bombardments.
The WFP has issued an urgent appeal to the international community to ensure the safe delivery of life-saving aid to all parts of Gaza, without obstruction.
