World Food Programme halves number of aid recipients in occupied West Bank

The World Food Programme (WFP) is reducing the number of people receiving food aid in the occupied West Bank by half, due to insufficient funding. This decision, which will take effect this month, will leave only 200,000 of the 400,000 people previously aided continuing to receive assistance. The WFP's move comes after a significant increase in need since 2023, when violence by Israeli forces and illegal settlers displaced Palestinians and disrupted their livelihoods.

Over 900,000 Palestinians are now food insecure, with two-thirds of households experiencing a major income decline and high food and fuel prices. Rural areas have been particularly affected, with settlers attacking farmers and destroying their crops and livestock. Shaun Hughes, WFP's country director for Palestine, expressed frustration, stating that families who once thrived from their land are now unable to afford basic food.

The funding shortage has also impacted WFP operations in Gaza, which serves 1.5 million people. The agency has already cut cash assistance for 375,000 people by 40 percent in July and warns of further cuts if funding does not improve. WFP urgently requires an additional $386 million over the next six months to serve an estimated two million food insecure people in Gaza and the West Bank.

Meanwhile, the British charity Medical Aid for Palestinians reported that three UN warehouses were damaged in Gaza's Deir Al Balah during an Israeli strike, and other WFP partner warehouses were also heavily damaged in a separate incident.