Palestine Forum urges New Zealand action on Gaza food aid cuts

The Palestine Forum of New Zealand has called on the New Zealand government to take immediate diplomatic and financial action following an announcement by the UN World Food Programme (WFP). The WFP reported that 500,000 Palestinians in Gaza are set to lose their monthly food assistance due to a severe funding shortfall.

Maher Nazzal, chair of the Palestine Forum, stated that the decision affects the daily survival of hundreds of thousands of people. The WFP has warned that assistance is being reduced as winter approaches, with food rations being halved, cash assistance being cut, and the provision of hot meals being reduced. Currently, approximately 1.4 million people in Gaza face crisis-level food insecurity or worse.

The advocacy group is urging the New Zealand government to provide urgent humanitarian funding, mobilize international support to close the WFP funding gap, and use diplomatic influence to ensure the safe and rapid entry of aid into Gaza. They also called for the implementation of a ceasefire and the protection of civilians in accordance with international humanitarian law.