RAMALLAH, September 2, 2026 (WAFA) – The World Food Programme (WFP) said that family assistance in the West Bank has been halved due to funding shortages, leaving nearly 200,000 people without support at a time when needs have doubled in the past two years.
WFP Country Director for Palestine, Shaun Hughes, stated that "escalating colonist violence and Israeli military operations, coupled with the economic crisis and rising unemployment, have exacerbated food insecurity." He noted that one-third of the West Bank’s population is struggling to meet its basic needs.
He added that in the Gaza Strip, the WFP reduced cash assistance to around 75,000 families last July, warning that up to 90% of the population could face high levels of acute food insecurity by the end of the year if humanitarian aid does not continue.
For its part, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned of a potential public health crisis in Gaza during the winter, given water contamination and deteriorating sanitation services. The WHO noted a surge in cases of acute watery diarrhea from approximately 30,000 in March to over 58,000 in August.
The organization said that more than 6,600 people need long-term care after amputations, while only 12% of those injured since October 2023 have received prosthetic limbs as of July, calling for accelerating the entry of medical and laboratory supplies and prosthetic limbs, ensuring access to clean water and improving waste management.
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