After weeks of heavy fighting, Gaza’s fragile cease-fire is holding but the humanitarian situation remains dire. Despite the pause in hostilities, aid agencies warn that the enclave is facing one of the worst hunger crises in its history, with food supplies dwindling and malnutrition spreading rapidly across the population.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Food Programme (WFP), the current cease-fire, which took effect on October 10, 2025, has allowed limited aid deliveries to resume. However, the amount of food entering Gaza remains far below the daily need. Around 750 tonnes of food are arriving each day, well short of the 2,000-tonne target required to meet basic survival needs for the population of over two million.
“The situation is catastrophic,” said WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “Even with the cease-fire, the hunger crisis in Gaza is worsening by the day.”
Food Shortage and Soaring Prices
The WFP reports that bakeries in central Gaza have restarted operations, producing more than 100,000 flatbreads daily as part of emergency food distribution. Yet, these efforts cover only a fraction of the need. In northern Gaza, access remains extremely limited, and famine conditions are developing as families struggle to find food and clean water.
Food prices have skyrocketed. Basic items that once cost one or two shekels now sell for over ten times that amount. A kilogram of tomatoes, for instance, now costs 15 shekels (about $4.50) far beyond the reach of most families.
Health and Malnutrition Crisis
The lack of food has triggered a severe health emergency. WHO estimates that 25% of Gaza’s population is now facing starvation-level conditions. Among the most vulnerable are pregnant women and children. Around 11,500 pregnant women are struggling to access nutrition and medical care, while 70% of newborns are either underweight or premature, a sharp rise from pre-war levels of around 20%.
Hospitals are barely functioning. Only 14 out of 36 medical facilities remain operational, with many lacking fuel, equipment, and medical supplies. The destruction of healthcare infrastructure has compounded the crisis, making it nearly impossible to treat severe malnutrition or related illnesses.
Aid Access Remains Limited
While the cease-fire has allowed some aid convoys to enter Gaza, access remains a major obstacle. Only two crossings Kerem Shalom and Kissufim are currently open, restricting deliveries to the southern and central regions. Northern Gaza, where the situation is most critical, remains largely cut off.
The United Nations has called the demand for food “overwhelming” and warned that without immediate scaling up of aid operations, Gaza could face a full-blown famine before the end of the year.
“The cease-fire has saved lives, but it hasn’t ended the suffering,” said a UN humanitarian coordinator. “We are still far from meeting the basic needs of the people.”
International Pressure and Response
Global organizations are urging both Israel and Palestinian authorities to expand access for humanitarian convoys and open additional border crossings. The U.S., Egypt, and Qatar key mediators of the truce are also pressing for longer-term arrangements that ensure sustained delivery of food, fuel, and medical supplies.
The WHO and WFP have deployed additional teams on the ground, focusing on nutrition programs for children and women, as well as restoration of clean water systems. However, security concerns and damaged infrastructure continue to slow operations.
A Fragile Path Forward
Despite the relative calm, international observers caution that the cease-fire remains fragile. Any escalation or border incident could easily unravel the truce, halting aid and plunging Gaza back into conflict. For now, the focus remains on preventing a humanitarian collapse.
As one aid official put it, “The bombs may have stopped, but the suffering hasn’t. Hunger is now Gaza’s silent killer.”
With winter approaching and food supplies still critically low, aid agencies warn that without a significant scale-up in assistance, the situation could become “irreversible” within weeks.
