Hunger in Gaza: First Aid Trucks Roll in as Ceasefire Takes Effect

Photo: WFP/Photo Library/2025
Published January 19, 2025

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) starts rollout of assistance to more than 1 million people

WFP trucks have started crossing into Gaza after the ceasefire came into effect. Trucks will enter from Egypt and via Ashdod, Israel.

  • The first WFP trucks are crossing from Egypt into Gaza. WFP aims to get at least 150 trucks into Gaza daily if conditions allow.
  • WFP plans to use every available border crossing point to get supplies into Gaza. Trucks from Jordan and Israel will aim to reach people in the north and from Egypt, people in southern Gaza.
  • This is a critical moment for the international community to reach families in Gaza at scale. But a ceasefire is only the start.
WFP trucks in Gaza
WFP plans to use every humanitarian corridor from Jordan, Israel and Egypt to get supplies into Gaza. 
Photo: WFP/Photo Library/2025

WFP welcomes the agreed ceasefire announced Wednesday, January 15. We emphasize that this is only the start – not the end – of what’s needed to reach families in Gaza. WFP needs $300 million to meet urgent needs in the enclave over the next six months. 

  • WFP calls on all parties to do what is in their power to halt any further fighting and ensure safe humanitarian access. The war has left more than 2 million people fully dependent on food assistance, homeless and without any income.
  • We need all border crossings open and functioning reliably. We also need humanitarian teams to be able to move freely and safely across Gaza to reach those in need.
  • If these conditions are in place, WFP is ready to scale up and distribute lifesaving food for over a million people in Gaza.
  • The needs in Gaza are immense. Recovery will require a full-scale humanitarian response with all agencies coming together, including UNRWA, to provide lifesaving assistance to 2 million people.
WFP trucks cross into Gaza
WFP trucks started crossing into Gaza via Zikim and Kerem Shalom crossings. The first trucks carried lifesaving wheat flour and ready-to-eat food.
Photo: WFP/Photo Library/2025

WFP has enough food pre-positioned along the borders and on its way to Gaza to feed over a million people for three months. UNRWA has enough supplies to support another million. For WFP, this includes food parcels, wheat flour, commodities for hot meals and nutrition supplements. 

  • WFP is working to help revive what remains of Gaza’s economy. To support local shops and empower people with the freedom of choice, WFP plans to expand its cash and voucher assistance to 100,000 people (once commercial activity and cash liquidity allow).
  • WFP will also support whatever factories remain, wheat flour mills and shops that can resume operations.
  • Using specialized teams, WFP has begun repairing and removing rubble from essential roads/key supply routes to allow for faster transportation of aid, on behalf of WFP and humanitarian partners.

To make a meaningful impact on the food security of people in Gaza, WFP needs the  international community to scale up funding.

  • WFP can send around 1,600 trucks of food each month to facilitate distributions for over 1 million people. In order to reach everyone in need, UNRWA’s support is critical. WFP is committed to bolstering UNRWA’s food assistance delivery efforts.  
  • Fast coordination and facilitation of movement into and across Gaza will also be critical, with free movement needed between the south and north of Gaza. All parties need to ensure the safe passage of aid and humanitarian staff across Gaza.
  • Commercial flows to Gaza need to be restored and cash liquidity accessible for the population so they can buy fresh food and other basic necessities.
  • Ceasefire conditions must be respected.
WFP hot meals distribution in Gaza
People in Khan Younis carry pots to be filled at a hot meal distribution. Only sustained humanitarian access can alleviate needs after over a year of war.
Photo: WFP/Jonathan Dumont/2024

If commercial supplies of food and other goods are in place, and local banks have the liquidity needed, we will also provide cash to families so they can buy food and other essentials.

  • WFP’s goal is to provide immediate food aid, support local food production, re-stock bakeries and provide nutrition supplements for thousands of children.
  • To reach people and make a meaningful impact, WFP also urgently needs the international community’s support with funding, so we that can increase capacity and sustain our humanitarian staffing.
  • Barely any food has gone into besieged north Gaza for more than two months. Winter cold and rain are further reducing people’s ability to survive.
  • Food security in Gaza has been worsening, with people becoming weaker by the day. There is almost no fresh food (fruit, vegetables, meat, fish), shops are empty, and bakeries have been unable to operate, lacking fuel, flour or both.
  • The humanitarian response in Gaza has faced continuing challenges and setbacks. The disregard for international humanitarian principles has placed humanitarian staff, operations and the people of Gaza at increasing risk.
  • WFP and humanitarian partners call on all parties to uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law and allow for the safe passage of aid. 
Child in Gaza
After 15 months of relentless suffering and devastation, this long-awaited ceasefire offers Palestinians room to breathe.
Photo: WFP/Ali Jadallah/2024

WFP Operations Update

  • So far this year, WFP has only been able to reach 305,000 people in Gaza and 177,000 in the West Bank.
  • With supplies inside Gaza severely strained, most of the people reached received hot meals or significantly reduced rations.
  • WFP distributed 34,683 ready-to-eat meals (RTEs) across Gaza, reaching 151,840 displaced people. Less than 10% of the 1.675 million targeted population received assistance. In Gaza City, families received two food parcels.
  • Hot meals were served from 62 kitchens to 250,000 displaced persons across Gaza.
  • Due to supply shortages, no bakeries in southern and central Gaza have been operational for over a month. In Gaza City, five bakeries are open but have cut production by 50% due to fuel shortages, with remaining fuel expected to last only two to three days.
  • In December, WFP dispatched over 14,000 metric tons of food into Gaza but faced challenges due to insecurity and looting, leading to depleted January stocks. To reach more people, WFP further reduced its rations, reaching 1.4 million people, but the majority received just one 25kg bag of wheat flour instead of the full ration of two food parcels and two bags of wheat flour.   

This story originally appeared on WFP’s Stories on January 19, 2025.