Gaza Humanitarian Response Update | 16 February - 1 March 2025

Animal feed provision aimed at helping families sustain their surviving livestock and thereby contribute to local food production. Photo by FAO

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Period: 16 February - 1 March 2025

The information below is provided on a bi-weekly basis by Clusters and select Technical Working Groups operating in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT). For an overview of priority needs and activities by cluster, please see the Flash Appeal.

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Food Security Sector (FSS)

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Response

Between the onset of the ceasefire on 19 January and 1 March, FSS partners have brought in over 78,000 metric tons (MT) of food into the Gaza Strip. Preliminary analysis indicates that food parcel distributions by key partners are largely complementary, reaching a combined total of over two million people across Gaza.
As of the third week of February, approximately 860,000 cooked meals were prepared in around 180 kitchens supported by humanitarians and distributed daily to families across the Gaza Strip. This represents an increase of over 35 per cent compared with the 630,000 meals prepared in about 160 kitchens before the ceasefire. Throughout February, the number of kitchens in Rafah doubled from four to eight and eight new kitchens were set up in Gaza city, increasing meal deliveries to North Gaza.
During February, FSS partners re-established at least seven food distribution points in North Gaza, including five in Jabalya and two Beit Lahiya. In total, over 200 food parcel distribution points are currently operational across Gaza, with efforts underway to establish additional points to minimize distances that families need to travel, thereby reducing costs and protection risks.
Since late January, FSS partners have established at least one help desk in North Gaza and six in Gaza city to assist people with food assistance registration and information updates.
As of 2 March, 25 WFP-supported bakeries are operational across Gaza, including one in Rafah, six in Deir al Balah, nine in Khan Younis, eight in Gaza city, and one in North Gaza. These bakeries are producing more than 150,000 bread bundles per day – five times more bread than prior to the ceasefire.
Bread is also available for purchase at 24 retailers, including 17 in Deir al Balah and seven in Khan Younis, to increase bread coverage, mitigate overcrowding and ensure families have safe access. FSS partners are working to establish similar bread-selling points in northern Gaza and east of Salah al Din Road to further expand coverage and reduce overcrowding, especially during the month of Ramadan.
FSS partners have also scaled up free bread delivery, allocating 30 per cent of the bakery production to selected shelters and community kitchens, where it is distributed alongside cooked meals. Since the start of Ramadan on 1 March, partners have been adjusting their operations to accommodate Ramadan-specific food consumption patterns.
Since mid-February, more than 3,000 vegetable seed kits have been distributed in Rafah, Khan Younis and Deir al Balah to promote diet diversity and improve nutrient intake through home and community gardening. Distribution of the remaining 7,000 kits that entered the Gaza Strip is underway.
Since 19 January, approximately 3,000 livestock holders in Deir al Balah, Khan Younis, and Gaza city have received over 1,000 MT of animal feed during two distribution rounds. Additionally, by the end of February, about two MT of feed was also distributed to a poultry farm in Khan Younis. This critical support helps livestock-keeping households sustain their surviving animals and contributes to local production of fresh, nutritious food—such as meat and dairy products—essential for a healthy diet, particularly for children.
FSS partners are conducting a joint quantitative assessment to better understand the needs and challenges faced by farmers, breeders and fishers. Data collection and analysis have been ongoing since the last week of February.
FSS partners are exploring ways to support agricultural wells with fuel to help resume local food production. This effort is being closely coordinated with the water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) Cluster, which provides fuel to private wells for non-agriculture use, ensuring effective collaboration, monitoring and accountability.

Challenges

Recent market monitoring analysis indicates that while key food prices decreased between January to February, many commodities remain priced 100-200 per cent higher than before the escalation of hostilities. Although half of surveyed households reported a slight improvement in food access compared to January 2025, overall consumption remains below pre-escalation levels. Overall, following months of severe food shortages, compounded by recent mass population movements, families continue to have minimal levels of food stocks and very limited purchasing power.
Lack of cash liquidity and insufficient access to financial services continue to hamper partners' day-to-day operations. Additionally, the delivery of cooked meals and free bread to North Gaza remains challenging due to the poor conditions of roads and infrastructure.
Cooking gas is available but remains insufficient for most households.
Incident reports continue to indicate that fishers have been fired at while fishing just meters from the shore. For partners to support the resumption of fishing activity, fishers must be granted safe access to fishing waters without fear of harm, along with the resumption of imports of essential fish production inputs and tools.
Restrictions on the entry of most emergency agricultural and livelihood inputs, except for some seeds and animal feed, are hindering the resumption of agricultural activities. This includes the reactivation of vegetable and fruit production and support for small-scale home, community and school gardening. The entry of agricultural inputs, such as seed kits, organic fertilizers and nylon sheets for greenhouses, is urgently needed through both humanitarian and private sector channels. These humanitarian items are key for supporting emergency livelihoods, enhancing dietary diversity and reducing food gaps in Gaza.

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Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)

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Response

Between 16 February and 1 March, the Palestinian Water Authority (PWA) and Coastal Municipalities Water Utility (CMWU) reported that a daily average of 135,232 cubic metres of water was produced across the Gaza Strip. About 38 per cent (51,707 cubic metres) of drinking water was produced from the two operational seawater desalination plants or supplied through two out of three Mekorot supply lines from Israel, while about 62 per cent (83,526 cubic metres) was produced by municipal ground water wells. CMWU are compensating for the lack of water from the Bani Said Mekorot water supply line by increasing production from groundwater wells in Deir al Balah.
As of 1 March, partners reported that over 1,300 water points are operational across the Gaza Strip, more than 95 per cent of which are used to support water trucking activities.
During the reporting period, WASH Cluster partners continued essential WASH interventions across Gaza, including water trucking, distribution of hygiene items, waste collection and installation of latrines continued throughout the Gaza Strip, as follows:
- In Rafah governorate, CMWU and three WASH partners trucked a total of 298 cubic metres of drinking water to returning internally displaced persons (IDPs) across 39 locations. Additionally, two partners distributed 13,100 hygiene supplies at 10 IDP sites. Currently, one municipal water desalination plant is operational to help address critical shortages caused by extensive damage to water facilities and the inaccessibility of infrastructure located in the buffer and no-go zones.
- In Khan Younis governorate, 13 partners trucked 958 cubic metres of drinking water and 4,276 cubic metres of domestic water to 217 locations, including displacement sites, schools-turned shelters, and humanitarian service delivery points. During the same period, partners also distributed 196,000 hygiene items and supported solid waste management by collecting 400 cubic metres of solid waste from sites and shelters. While the transfer of solid waste to temporary waste sites is increasing, about half of these sites are already full, and there is no access to landfills (see challenges below). Additionally, two partners installed 552 communal latrines.
- In Deir al Balah governorate, 14 partners trucked 664 cubic metres of drinking water and 2,531 cubic metres of domestic water to 164 locations, including displacement sites, schools-turned shelters, healthcare facilities and humanitarian service delivery points. Eleven partners distributed more than 286,000 hygiene supplies while 533 cubic metres of waste were collected, and 492 cubic metres of waste were transferred to dumping sites. The Al Amal temporary waste site is nearly full.
- In Gaza governorate, 15 partners trucked 1,851 cubic metres of drinking water and 759 cubic metres of domestic water to 338 locations, including displacement sites, schools-turned shelters, and humanitarian service delivery points. Additionally, partners distributed 47,000 hygiene supplies, collected 4,265 cubic metres of solid waste and transferred 1,253 cubic metres of solid waste to temporary dump sites. Planning is underway to scale up solid waste collection to 2,500 cubic metres per day in Gaza city.
- In North Gaza governorate, nine partners trucked 1,153 cubic metres of drinking water and 3,219 cubic metres of domestic water to 210 locations, including displacement sites. In addition, partners distributed 7,300 hygiene supplies and transferred 326 cubic metres of solid waste to temporary dump sites. Two UNRWA wells are operational in Jabalya and work is underway to repair two additional wells.

Challenges

Energy remains a considerable challenge for the WASH partners. Since October 2023, the Israeli authorities cut off the electricity supply and fuel reserves for Gaza’s only power plant (GPP) were depleted, forcing it to shut down, with electricity generation largely dependent on the entry of fuel for smaller generators. This has severely affected water production and distribution, as well as sewage and solid waste management, which now rely heavily on back-up generators operating long hours. The limited entry of generators, and spare parts, along with restrictions on vehicle spare parts and consumables, has necessitated careful management of WASH systems to sustain a minimum of operations. While improved access conditions following the ceasefire have enabled WASH services to be provided in more locations, the low importation rate of appropriate equipment and materials to Gaza remains a critical challenge.
The WASH sector supply chain remains a key challenge for an effective response for several reasons. First, a broad range of critical WASH equipment are classified by Israeli authorities as “dual-use” items—goods that are considered useable for either civilian or military purposes—and are subject to entry restrictions. Second, WASH items, such as pipes, generators and prefabricated structures, are bulky, making them difficult to transport and screen, further limiting their availability. To address these challenges, the WASH Cluster urges donors to recognize the risks and impact associated with restrictions on the entry of WASH materials on response timeframes.
The continued denial of access by the Israeli authorities to the Sofa and Juhor al Dik landfills, which fall within the “buffer” and “no-go” zones, is preventing agencies from transferring solid waste from the 30 temporary dump sites and numerous persistent ad-hoc sites. Approximately half of the temporary dump sites are already full and unable to receive additional amounts of solid waste. Access is needed to the two landfills to ensure a sanitary environment in southern and northern Gaza. Furthermore, the primary solid waste collection South of Wadi Gaza is expected to come to a halt by mid-April due to funding constraints. The WASH sector urgently requires new donors to support this critical activity.