The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) issued a dire warning on Thursday, stating that the limited humanitarian aid currently reaching Gaza is grossly insufficient to prevent an impending famine in the besieged Palestinian enclave.

In a post shared on its official X (formerly Twitter) account, the WFP stressed the urgent need for a significant increase in the volume of essential food supplies being delivered to Gaza’s population. “Bread alone is not enough for people to survive,” the agency wrote, highlighting the extreme nutritional deficiencies currently facing civilians trapped under blockade.

The warning follows the partial resumption of operations at several bakeries in southern Gaza, made possible after a small quantity of flour was delivered through limited humanitarian corridors. These bakeries, supported by WFP, began producing bread again, offering a temporary glimmer of relief in an otherwise dire situation.

“This is a critical first step — but assistance must be scaled up,” the WFP said in a follow-up statement. “More essential food is needed to push back the risk of famine.”

Despite the modest progress, the organization reiterated that the scale of current aid deliveries falls drastically short of what is required to address the severe humanitarian emergency. WFP called for the immediate and sustained entry of large-scale food aid and essential goods into Gaza, warning of catastrophic consequences if the current restrictions persist.

Since March 2, Gaza has been under a tightened Israeli blockade that has further choked off food, water, medical supplies, and fuel, compounding the suffering of more than two million Palestinians. Aid groups and UN agencies have repeatedly described the situation as one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world today, with severe malnutrition and food insecurity reaching unprecedented levels.

The WFP’s appeal underscores growing international concern over the scale of the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, with many calling for the immediate lifting of the blockade and unrestricted access for relief organizations to prevent mass starvation and further loss of life. (ILKHA)