Humanitarian officials are warning of a deepening food crisis in Gaza after World Central Kitchen (WCK) announced a scaling back of its operations due to funding shortages, reducing the scale of an aid effort that has become a primary source of food for many displaced families.

Across shelters and makeshift camps, families say the daily hot meal provided by humanitarian kitchens has shifted from a supplement to a lifeline. Many report having no income, limited access to markets, and no alternative means of feeding their children as economic conditions continue to deteriorate.

Aid workers say the reduction comes at a critical moment, with widespread food insecurity already affecting large parts of the population. In recent months, WCK had expanded its operations significantly, operating field kitchens and distribution points across the Strip, delivering large volumes of meals, bread, and drinking water to displaced communities.

Officials linked to Gaza’s administration say more than 250,000 families could be affected if reductions continue, warning that any further scaling down of services would have immediate consequences for children, elderly people, and those with pre-existing health conditions in overcrowded shelters.

WCK has said the changes reflect funding constraints and a return towards pre-ceasefire operational levels, while stressing that humanitarian needs remain extremely high and that food distribution will continue at reduced capacity.