Gaza Children Face Worsening Food Shortages Amid Rising Prices and Aid Cuts

Gaza Children Face Worsening Food Shortages Amid Rising Prices and Aid Cuts
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Food shortages and rising prices are worsening the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, leaving displaced Palestinian families struggling to provide nutritious meals for their children. The suspension of commercial shipments on October 14 disrupted supplies of essential goods, while many households cannot afford basic foods such as eggs, milk, meat and fresh vegetables.

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) announced cuts to food assistance in October due to funding shortages, reducing the number of people receiving support from 1.6 million to 1.1 million. Food rations have also been halved, and daily hot meals reduced from 250,000 to 150,000.

According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), more than 2,800 children were admitted for malnutrition treatment in September, including over 360 suffering from severe acute malnutrition. Health specialists warn that continued restrictions on food supplies and limited access to protein-rich foods could further damage children’s health, growth and development.

Despite Israel’s announcement on October 19 that commercial shipments would gradually resume, families remain deeply concerned about worsening hunger and their children’s nutritional needs.