Gaza food aid expected to decrease in October due to funding shortages

Food assistance for residents in Gaza is expected to decrease significantly starting in October due to funding shortages, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Humanitarian partners have warned that the number of daily hot meals and monthly food package distributions to families will shrink.

As of late September, 25 organizations were providing approximately 695,000 daily meals through 103 kitchens across Gaza. In September, food aid reached 220,000 households, involving over 840,000 people. However, OCHA noted that current food packages often only meet about half of the minimum caloric requirements for families.

In a separate effort to address immediate needs, Indonesia’s National Alms Agency (Baznas) distributed 875 packages of hot, ready-to-eat meals to 3,500 displaced residents. Each package, containing rice and chicken, is intended to feed a family of four. Aid workers continue to face challenges including funding deficits and restrictions on the entry of essential supplies and equipment into the territory.