Gaza faces acute food crisis as flour shortages force bakery closures

Gaza food crisis flour shortage World Food Programme bakery closures humanitarian aid

The Gaza Strip is facing a severe food crisis as flour shortages and restrictions on commercial shipments have forced the majority of its bakeries to close. Abdul Nasser al-Ajrami, head of the Gaza Bakeries Association, reported that only seven of the 20 previously operating bakeries remain active, warning that the remaining facilities risk shutting down within 48 hours due to exhausted reserves.

This shortage coincides with a significant reduction in humanitarian aid. The World Food Programme (WFP) recently announced it is reducing food assistance, affecting approximately 500,000 beneficiaries due to funding deficits. Additionally, the WFP has reportedly given its teams a 30-day deadline to close all its warehouses in the Gaza Strip.

The scarcity has caused dramatic price spikes. The cost of a 25-kilogram bag of flour has risen from approximately USD 8 to about USD 65, while the price for 20 loaves of bread has increased to between 10 and 18 shekels in some areas. The Ministry of Social Development in Gaza has warned of an imminent humanitarian disaster, noting that the lack of staples threatens the food security of hundreds of thousands of displaced families, particularly children and the elderly.

In response to the crisis, Egypt has increased flour supplies to Gaza to support bakeries and address the bread crisis. Efforts are underway to facilitate daily deliveries to help stabilize the supply and mitigate the impact of the shortages.

Entities

Egypt · Gaza Bakeries Association · Gaza Strip · Gaza Strip Bakery Association · Ministry of Social Development · Palestinian Information Center · World Central Kitchen · World Food Programme

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 6 SOURCES] The World Food Programme is reducing food assistance, affecting approximately 500,000 beneficiaries. palps.net · wtnfm.com · minanews.net · www.lapresse.tn · www.siasat.com · +1 more
[DISPUTED] Egypt is increasing flour supplies to Gaza to support bakeries and address the bread crisis. wtnfm.com
[○ 1 SOURCE] The World Food Programme has given its teams a 30-day deadline to close all its warehouses in the Gaza Strip. palps.net
[● 7 SOURCES] At least 10 of Gaza's 17 bakeries have closed due to flour shortages. www.siasat.com · wtnfm.com · alkhabaralyemeni.net · qudsnet.com · minanews.net · +2 more
[DISPUTED] The Gaza Strip Bakery Association reported that flour warehouses are completely out of order. alkhabaralyemeni.net · minanews.net · www.telesurenglish.net
[○ 1 SOURCE] The price of a 25-kilogram bag of flour has risen from approximately USD 8 to about USD 65. www.siasat.com
[○ 1 SOURCE] The cost of 20 loaves of bread has increased to between 10 and 18 shekels in some areas. www.siasat.com
[● 3 SOURCES] The Ministry of Social Development in Gaza warned of an imminent humanitarian disaster due to bakery closures. qudsnet.com · wtnfm.com · www.lapresse.tn