MoSD: Food Availability Is Not Enough If Families Cannot Access It or Afford Their Needs
1.4 Million People in Gaza Face Crisis or Worse Levels of Acute Food Insecurity, Including 212,000 in Emergency
Ramallah – On the occasion of World Food Day, observed on 16 October, the Ministry of Social Development affirmed that the right to food is not fulfilled merely by the availability of commodities in markets or the entry of humanitarian assistance into the Gaza Strip. Rather, it requires families to have regular access to sufficient, diverse, safe, and nutritious food in a manner that protects health and dignity and prevents further deterioration in nutritional conditions.
World Food Day 2026 is being observed under the theme “Innovate Today. Nourish Tomorrow.” The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) emphasizes that access to sufficient, diverse, and safe food requires innovative and inclusive solutions that protect food systems and ensure their sustainability for all.
In the Gaza Strip, the latest projections from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) indicate that more than 1.4 million people, approximately 67% of the population, are projected to face Crisis or worse levels of acute food insecurity between July and December 2026, including approximately 212,000 people in Emergency.
The Ministry stressed that these figures demonstrate that the food crisis is no longer linked solely to food availability, but also to weakened purchasing power, the collapse of income sources, rising prices, irregular assistance, and families’ declining ability to compensate for shortages through markets.
The IPC analysis also confirms that declining purchasing power, high commodity prices, and the inconsistent entry of humanitarian assistance and commercial goods continue to restrict people’s access to essential needs, while the recovery of local production and livelihoods remains limited.
The Ministry explained that a family without income cannot fully benefit from food being available in the market, stressing that food security should be measured by the extent to which households can regularly afford their needs, rather than solely by the quantities of goods entering the Gaza Strip.
The Ministry added that food quality and dietary diversity are also fundamental aspects of the crisis. Meeting minimum caloric requirements alone is insufficient if diets lack protein, vegetables, fruits, and essential nutrients, particularly for children, pregnant and breastfeeding women, older persons, and people with health conditions.
The Ministry emphasized the importance of diversifying response mechanisms to include food assistance, bread and meals, cash assistance, specialized nutrition interventions, and support for local markets, livelihoods, and food production whenever conditions allow.
It also stressed the importance of cash assistance in situations where goods are available in markets, as it enables families to determine their own priorities and purchase the food they actually need, rather than relying entirely on a single food item or a predetermined assistance package.
The Ministry affirmed that food interventions must also take into account the needs of the most vulnerable groups, particularly children, pregnant and breastfeeding women, older persons, persons with disabilities, and people with health conditions who may require specialized food or food parcels adapted to their health needs.
The Ministry noted that sustainably addressing the crisis also requires restoring sources of income, employment opportunities, and local production, as long-term dependence on humanitarian assistance cannot substitute for an economy capable of enabling families to meet their own needs.
The Ministry of Social Development reaffirmed its continued efforts to monitor families’ needs and coordinate with international organizations and partners to direct resources toward the most vulnerable groups and link food interventions with the social protection system and household needs.
The Ministry concluded by emphasizing that the right to food is not fulfilled when food merely reaches the border, warehouse, or market, but when families are able to put sufficient and diverse food on their tables in a manner that preserves their dignity. It stressed the need to continue assistance while simultaneously strengthening purchasing power and restoring livelihoods.