UN food agency runs out of food supplies in Gaza under blockade

In the Gaza Strip, the humanitarian crisis has escalated significantly due to the ongoing blockade imposed by Israel, which began on March 2, 2025. The World Food Program (WFP), a vital institution providing food aid in the region, has reported that its food stocks have run out. This situation has dire implications for Gaza's population, as over 2 million residents heavily depend on external food assistance due to their reliance on charity kitchens for sustenance. The WFP's previous support included meals provided through 37 kitchens that produced around 500,000 meals daily. The ongoing blockade was implemented ostensibly to pressure Hamas to release hostages following the October 7 attack, in which militants abducted 251 individuals and killed approximately 1,200 people, primarily civilians. Despite claims from Israel that Gaza has sufficient supplies due to a temporary surge of aid during a ceasefire, rights organizations have condemned the blockade as a potential war crime and a starvation tactic. While Israel maintains that Hamas diverts aid for its actions, the reality on the ground reflects a drastic decrease in available food supplies and an increase in malnutrition. The effects of this blockade have been profound, with essential food items such as meat, eggs, and fruits disappearing from local markets. As a increasing number of aid groups report dwindling resources, they have been forced to provide limited nutritional supplements to children suffering from malnutrition. In March alone, there were 3,700 children reported as suffering from acute malnutrition, marking an 80% increase from the previous month. Diminishing supplies have forced organizations like World Central Kitchen, which operates independently of WFP, to ration their resources, turning to canned goods due to a lack of proteins. The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is now critical, as it is compounded by the ongoing military actions. The combination of a blockade restricting food, fuel, and medical supplies alongside continuous conflict has exacerbated an already dire situation. Aid groups have called for increased international intervention to alleviate the suffering of civilians caught in the conflict. As Gaza's charity kitchens prepare to run out of their supplies in the coming days, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians are left facing an uncertain and desperate outlook regarding their access to food and basic necessities.