Hyderabad, Oct. 19 -- The UN World Food Programme (WFP) will stop food assistance to about half a million people in Gaza because of a funding shortfall, the agency has said, warning that the cuts come as winter approaches and hunger remains widespread.

The number of people receiving WFP help will fall from 1.6 million to 1.1 million, roughly a third fewer.

Community kitchens backed by the agency will serve 150,000 hot meals a day, down from 250,000. Families in hard-to-reach areas, such as those near the so-called Yellow Line marking the zone under Israeli military control, will get a meal every other day instead of daily.

The number of people receiving flour and ration boxes each month will drop from 1.1 million to 600,000. Cash trans...