WFP food convoys keep moving into Gaza as starvation drives lawlessness, leaving the most vulnerable without food

Here are the latest updates on food security and WFP operations in Gaza:

Food Security in Gaza

• According to the latest assessment of food security (IPC alert 29 July):
  • Starvation and malnutrition in Gaza are at the highest levels ever since the conflict began almost two years ago.
  • The worst-case scenario of famine is unfolding in Gaza - two out of the three famine criteria have been breached in parts of the Strip.
  • More than a third of the population is not eating for days at a time and acute malnutrition is spiking with over 300,000 children at severe risk.
  • Half a million people in Gaza are on the brink of famine, while the rest are enduring emergency levels of hunger.

WFP Operations

• As of 07 August, in the 11 days since “humanitarian pauses” in Gaza were announced, WFP teams have been able to dispatch over 10,400 metric tons (MT) of food aid inside Gaza, via more than 800 trucks.
• While the number of WFP trucks entering Gaza has improved slightly since 27 July, it's still a fraction of what's needed. WFP convoys dispatching food aid inside Gaza have included 74 trucks on average.
• Just to cover basic humanitarian food assistance needs, more than 62,000 MT are required every month.
• WFP’s aims to pick up 2,000 MT of food aid from border crossings to bring it into Gaza every day. Since 27 July, WFP has managed to deliver 47 percent of this target.
• The food supplies going into Gaza include wheat flour, supplies for hot meals, ready-to-eat meals, yeast and nutrition products.
• Almost all of the trucks carrying WFP food aid inside Gaza have been stopped by civilians before reaching WFP warehouses. As a result, organized distributions are not possible, hot meals kitchens receive no supplies from WFP and bakeries cannot re-open.
• Israeli authorities have provided written assurances that operating conditions inside Gaza will improve, and that more food aid will be able to flow into Gaza.
• The assurances include the use of more routes and border crossing points with faster clearances, dependable communications, and without the presence of military forces near convoys.
• WFP has over 170,000 metric tons of food in - or on its way to - the region, enough to feed the entire population of 2.1 million people for nearly three months.

Operating Conditions Inside Gaza

• After 22 months of fighting, the social fabric of Gaza is collapsing as the fear of starvation intensifies. Public order has broken down and violence erupts as civilians seek food aid.
• The most vulnerable citizens are unable to access food aid because organized food distributions are impossible, bakeries remain closed and the few hot meals kitchens still functioning are unable to offer an adequate meal.
• Despite written assurances from Israeli authorities, WFP is forced to travel along the same routes inside Gaza that present high risk for staff and drivers.
• Convoy movements are frequently hampered by last-minute changes by Israeli authorities, and heavy insecurity due to military activities along convoy routes.
• Convoys are consistently delayed many hours before receiving final permissions to move into Gaza – with large crowds of hungry people gathering along known routes to intercept aid trucks.
• WFP continues to face problems replenishing the stocks at border crossing points. Since July 27, 266 WFP trucks arriving at crossing points were turned back, 31 percent of which had initially been approved.
• Only two border crossing points have been cleared for WFP use.
• So far, only 60 truck drivers have been vettedand approved by authorities to transport food assistance inside Gaza. More are urgently needed.

Scaling Food Aid into Gaza

• To surge food aid into Gaza and alleviate desperation, we must be able to deliver vital assistance with speed, scale, and safety.
• WFP is calling for:
  • At least 100 trucks per day to be allowed into Gaza from northern, central and southern border points.
  • Much faster approvals and clearances to move trucks inside Gaza – for the safety of civilians and our staff.
  • All military forces on the ground to respect the established rules of engagement: no armed presence or shooting near humanitarian convoys, food distributions, and other operations.
  • The re-opening of bakeries and community kitchens to provide basic relief for starving people.
  • Regular and sustained commercial food imports to provide access to fresh and nutritious produce like fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, and dairy products.
• Above all, what’s needed now is a ceasefire so that WFP can deliver vital aid safely, securely, predictably, and at scale to everyone inside Gaza.

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The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

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