Strengthening Nutritional Resilience During Emergency for Infants, Young Children, and PBFWs through provision of hot meals. ltpgtltbrgtHumanitarian needs in Gaza have spiked since October 7, 2023, due to the ongoing intensive armed violence after the "Al-Aqsa Flood" operation. Israel's complete siege on Gaza, including cutting off electricity, food, and fuel supplies, worsened the situation. The Rafah Crossing, a crucial entry point for humanitarian aid, remained closed until October 21, limiting the delivery of essentials like food, water, and medicine. Despite convoys entering Gaza since then, their scale has been insufficient to meet the overwhelming needs. The seven-day pause in late November allowed larger convoys through the Rafah Crossing, bringing humanitarian supplies, fuel, and cooking gas, but the aid remains inadequate. The entry of first aid convoys from Jordan directly to Gaza via Kerem Shalom on 20 December could enhance the flow of assistance, if sustainable and adequate. ltbrgt  ltbrgtSince the beginning of the escalation on 7 October, WFP reached around 1.4 million displaced people in Gaza, inside and outside UN shelters with different in-kind food and electronic food vouchers at shops. During the humanitarian pause, WFP reached vulnerable people mostly with in-kind and some cash-based food assistance across Gaza. However, with the intense fighting and displacement, more than 75 percent of WFP shops closed, ran out of food stocks, or had no connectivity to operate the assistance across Gaza. Also, the closure of most bakeries, which have been impacted by the shelling and due to lack of fuel and gas. Consequently, WFP has increasingly shifted to in-kind food assistance procured regionally as no commercial imports have entered Gaza since the outbreak of the current conflict. WFP food is distributed in Gaza through three channels: With the help of UNRWA for displaced people in UNRWA shelters using in-kind and Ready-To-Eat (RTE) food and bread International NGOs and local NGOs partners for food distributed to people outside the UNRWA shelters and through local retailers for people outside of shelters supported by food vouchers and food parcels.ltbrgtNutrition considerations and dietary diversity are additional factors WFP considers during emergency responses thus, WFP started a hot meal programme with plans to expand it, to complement the in-kind ready-to-eat parcels. Cooked meals will improve the calorie and essential nutrient intake of PBFW, and children aged 24-59 months.  ltbrgtUnder this proposal, WFP will seek to assist internally displaced households which include pregnant and breastfeeding women and children under the age of 5. WFP will be able to reach 10,0000 people, who have been affected by the ongoing hostilities through the provision of hot meals. As per the Nutrition Cluster, the percentage of PBFW and children under five of the total population is 21%, accordingly out of the 10,000 IDPs receiving hot meals, around 2,100 are estimated PBFW and children under five (700 women, 700 girls, and 700 boys under five years). ltbrgtWFP in cooperation with its implementing partner NGO “Sharek Youth Form” and community Kitchens surrounding UN shelters, will be able to cook and distribute 10,000 meals per day for one month (300,000 meals), to help meet the immediate food needs of the affected people inside two UN shelters at Rafah.ltbrgtlt/pgt