Rome, 21 July 2025, Ross Smith – the World Food Program’s Director of Emergency Preparedness and Response briefed reporters online due to the incidents around the WFP convoy that happened over the weekend: “the hunger crisis in Gaza has certainly reached new and astonishing levels of desperation. Currently, the critical request is the need for a ceasefire”.
The fact says:
- A third of the population are not eating for multiple days in a row.
- A quarter of the population are facing famine-like conditions with severe acute malnutrition surging.
- More than 100,000 women and children are suffering from severe acute malnutrition and need treatment as soon as possible.
- People are dying from lack of humanitarian assistance every day and the number escalates.
- Humanitarian assistance is the only solution now and nothing else is really moving inside Gaza.
- The World Food Program (WFP) needs official access to enable move and work independently and effectively including access for crossing points into Gaza and be able to have proper routing inside Gaza; it includes a request to reduce the waiting and approval times.
Related link:
Gaza: WFP convoy incidents – Press Conference | United Nations
Gaza: UN Humanitarian Chief urges action to protect civilians and ensure aid access | United Nations
Gaza: 17,000 children killed & and 33,000 injured in 21 Months – UNICEF briefing | United Nations
