Food security and child nutrition in the Gaza Strip have improved significantly due to increased humanitarian assistance and commercial activity following the October 2025 ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. However, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), UNICEF, and the World Food Programme (WFP) warn that these gains remain fragile and could unravel without continued access, funding, and recovery support.

Carl Skau, WFP Acting Executive Director, stated, “There is progress on food security in Gaza, but it is fragile and can easily be reversed.” He emphasized the ongoing brutal humanitarian situation, with families lacking water, sanitation, and medicine, and called for sustained access and stability to enable recovery.

According to the latest analysis by the UN-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), 1.4 million people—67% of Gaza’s population—are experiencing crisis or worse levels of acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 or above). This marks a decrease from 1.6 million people (77% of the population) at the end of last year, though approximately 212,000 people remain in emergency conditions (IPC Phase 4).

In May alone, humanitarian efforts reached around 1.5 million people with food parcels, provided multipurpose cash assistance to about 700,000 people, and delivered nutrition support to 60% of children under five, with increased access to treatment for acute malnutrition.

Looking ahead, some 74,000 children are expected to require treatment for acute malnutrition, and roughly 25,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women will need nutrition support in the coming year.

While significant recovery of livelihoods and broader economic activity has yet to begin, early signs suggest that local food production can resume where farmers and herders have access to cropland, agricultural inputs, productive assets, veterinary support, and essential services including energy for irrigation.

The UN agencies underscore that the improvements demonstrate how quickly conditions can change when humanitarian assistance and commercial activity are scaled up, but sustained efforts are critical to prevent a reversal of progress.

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