• World Central Kitchen ceases operations in Gaza due to supply depletion.
• Community kitchens close, impacting food availability for over 2 million people.
• Humanitarian agencies call for action amid worsening conditions.

The World Central Kitchen (WCK) announced that it has halted its operations in the Gaza Strip after running out of essential supplies. Over the past 18 months, WCK has provided more than 130 million meals, including 26 million loaves of bread, but can no longer continue due to the blockade imposed by Israel, which has prevented the entry of food and humanitarian aid since early March 2023, deepening the humanitarian crisis. While WCK is distributing potable water, its food aid cannot resume without Israeli permission for additional supplies to enter, according to aa and Reuters.

The closure of WCK's operations coincides with a significant decline in community kitchens across Gaza, where dozens have shut down, dramatically affecting food access for its population of 2.3 million. Amjad Al-Shawa, director of the Palestinian Non-Governmental Organizations Network, noted that this could lead to a reduction of daily meals by 400,000 to 500,000. He emphasized the catastrophic hunger situation, stating, "The hunger catastrophe is beyond words," highlighting the dire state of food security among Gazans, according to Reuters and Dawn.

Efforts to provide aid in Gaza are further hampered by accusations between Israel and humanitarian agencies regarding the diversion of aid. Israel faces increasing international pressure to lift the blockade, which has been denounced as "unacceptable" by the Red Cross and other organizations, as the situation deteriorates into a severe humanitarian disaster. "It is unacceptable that humanitarian aid is not allowed into the Gaza Strip," stated Pierre Krahenbuhl, the director general of the International Committee of the Red Cross, stressing the urgent need for aid to prevent further deterioration in health and living conditions, according to Dawn and Reuters.

Gazans report severe shortages, with residents lamenting the quality of what limited supplies exist in local markets, including contaminated flour. The lack of available food has driven the population to desperation, with many now relying on only one meal per day that often lacks basic nutritional components. This alarming trend poses a significant risk to vulnerable populations, including children and pregnant women, as pointed out by Al-Shawa and corroborated by multiple humanitarian sources, according to Reuters and Dawn.