MoSD Continues Interventions to Support the Gaza Strip in Cooperation with Partners

Declining Assistance, Rising Prices, and Eroding Purchasing Power Leave Families Facing a Growing Food Gap

Ramallah – The Ministry of Social Development warned of increasing food insecurity vulnerability in the Gaza Strip amid declining quantities of food assistance, rising prices, and the continued erosion of families’ purchasing power, as winter approaches and brings additional needs for displaced and affected families.

The Ministry stressed that the seriousness of the current situation lies not only in food shortages, but in the convergence of several pressures at the same time, including reduced assistance, the rising cost of essential goods, loss of income sources, and the exhaustion of coping mechanisms that families have relied on throughout the crisis.

The Ministry explained that declining food assistance is widening the gap between what families receive and what they actually need, particularly when food assistance does not cover minimum basic requirements, forcing families to seek other sources to compensate for the shortfall.

It stressed that markets are not an accessible alternative for all families. The availability of some goods does not necessarily mean that people can afford them, particularly amid rising prices and the loss or decline of income sources among a large segment of the population. Purchasing power has therefore become a critical factor in access to food.

The Ministry emphasized that families that have lost their income can no longer compensate for reduced assistance through direct purchases, shifting the gap from the amount of assistance provided to the family’s own ability to secure its food needs on a regular basis.

It noted that many families have already exhausted available coping mechanisms by reducing the quantity and diversity of food, borrowing money, relying on relatives, and selling some of their belongings. These measures have become increasingly unsustainable as the crisis continues and needs accumulate.

The Ministry stressed that children, women, older persons, persons with disabilities, and families living in difficult displacement conditions are the most affected by any further reduction in the quantity or diversity of food, given the direct consequences for health, nutrition, protection, and family stability.

With winter approaching, the Ministry warned that pressures on families are expected to increase further. Winter does not bring a single additional need; families must simultaneously secure food, shelter, winter clothing, blankets, heating, and protection from rain and cold.

The Ministry explained that families without a stable income may be forced to choose between food and essential winter needs, while thousands of families are living in tents and temporary shelters that are more vulnerable to water leakage, cold, and wind, creating additional needs on top of those they already face.

The Ministry stressed that winter could further widen the food gap if assistance declines while needs increase and purchasing power remains weak, warning that any additional shock could push more families into higher levels of vulnerability.

The Ministry of Social Development called for strengthened daily monitoring of food security levels, prices, and the availability of essential goods in markets, as well as close monitoring of the volume of assistance compared with the population’s actual needs. It also called for increasing the quantity and frequency of food assistance entering the Gaza Strip in coordination with partners working on the ground.

The Ministry further stressed the importance of expanding cash assistance programmes for families that have lost their sources of income, alongside supporting bread programmes, hot meals, and direct food assistance, and linking the food response with winter preparedness plans, particularly in displacement areas.

It emphasized that the coming period requires prioritizing the most vulnerable groups, particularly children, women, older persons, persons with disabilities, and families that have lost their sources of income or are living in unsafe shelter conditions.

The Ministry concluded by stressing that addressing food insecurity vulnerability in Gaza requires updated data, continuous field monitoring, a rapid and flexible response, and increased support before the gap widens into a deeper crisis. It emphasized that the coming winter should not be viewed merely as a seasonal weather challenge, but as an additional factor that could further increase the vulnerability of families already suffering from food shortages and limited access to food.