LONDON, Oct 12 — The UN's World Food Programme (WFP) said on Saturday that it is scaling up aid operations in Gaza, urging faster access and clearance at entry points as over 170,000 metric tonnes of food — enough to feed the entire population for up to three months — await dispatch amid a nascent ceasefire.
The WFP said tonnes of food are ready for dispatch or en route to Gaza via Ashdod, Egypt, Jordan, and the West Bank, Anadolu Ajansi (AA) reported.
The UN agency also said scaling up deliveries will require “fast, efficient use of all entry points, secure and unhindered humanitarian access, rehabilitation of vital infrastructure and storage facilities, and faster clearance protocols at the Ashdod port.”
The WFP said it is preparing to reach up to 1.6 million people in the first three months with bread, wheat flour, and family food parcels.
It plans to expand bakery support from 10 to 30 sites, producing 100,000 bundles of fresh bread daily.
The WFP also aims to boost support for pregnant and breastfeeding women, and expand digital payment assistance — already reaching 140,000 people — to help vulnerable groups buy food locally.
“Despite the many challenges, WFP has worked tirelessly to adapt its operations,” the agency said, adding that the new ceasefire must hold for it to operate at the scale needed for a crisis of this magnitude.
