Assistance to the Palestinian people – Emergency report on OPT – WFP report (excerpts)

World Food Programme Emergency Report 2006

Issued Weekly by the United Nations World Food Programme

Report No. 5 / 2006 – Date 03 February 2006

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(B) Middle East,Central Asia and Eastern Europe: (1) Afghanistan (2) Occupied Palestinian Territories (3) Pakistan (4) Russian Federation (Caucasus)

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(2) Occupied Palestinian Territories

(a) On the 4th of January, Prime Minister Sharon suffered a serious stroke and remains in a coma. Deputy Prime Minister Olmert has taken charge of the newly formed Kadima party. Israeli elections remain scheduled for the 6th of March.

(b) The run up to the Palestinian Legislative Elections (PLC) saw an escalation in violence with a terror attack in Tel Aviv on the 19th of January. Simultaneously the Northern Gaza Strip has been the target of heavy shelling in response to repeated firing of Qassam rockets.

(c) Access issues proved very problematic during the reporting period (01-31 January). A complete closure imposed on the 20 December was lifted in mid-January. The Karni crossing remains closed. One WFP distribution in Southern Gaza Strip had to be suspended following threats against the Cooperating Partners (CP).

(d) Under the Protracted Relief and Recovery Operation (PRRO 10387), basic food needs of both the Social Hardship Cases (SHC) and New Poor (NP) will be met through distribution of monthly family rations. While the SHC will receive relief food as part of the Mission Subsistence Allowance (MSA) programme, NP beneficiaries will receive food through participation in Food-for-Work (FFW) and Food-for-Training (FFT) activities implemented through CPs. The most vulnerable individuals living in institutions will be provided a daily food ration.

(e) During the reporting period, distributions were kept to a minimum over the campaign period and were halted during the elections.

(f) In the West Bank, WFP provided SHC with the November-December allocation. 70 percent of entitlements were issued, and monitoring visits are still ongoing to ensure that beneficiaries received the correct rations according to family size. MoA, CRS and CHF distributions for Oct – Dec are in progress. FFW and FFT projects are ongoing.

(g) In Gaza Strip, WFP started distribution of January/ February allocation to SHCs in South Gaza (Rafah and Khan Younis) using the new system of 3 categories of rations based on family size. As of 6th January, WFP distributed a total of 360 tons to 3,560 in Rafah and Khan Younis. Delivery of the January and February allocation is on going in the other directorates.

(h) CHF FFW activities are going slowly due to late start of CHF USAID funded projects (EPLA and PARKS) linked with WFP FFW activities The MOA LOU was amended and signed to include additional 2,000 families (12,000 individuals) for a period of six months. MOA has started selection of 2000 Bedouin families in three governorates with high food insecurity and relatively low refugee population (Khan Younis, Rafah and the Middle Area).

(i) In West Bank, WFP agreed to design a poster for all CPs with information on entitlements, minimum working hours and WFP visibility to be used at the distribution sites.

(j) WFP has undertaken two pilot market monitoring surveys in September and November. This information will be fed in the FIVIM system of FAO and further will support the analytical capacity of the Government in terms of Food Security.

(k) During the reporting period, 5,891 tons of food were provided to 359,000 beneficiaries.

(l) In accordance with the recommendations of a WFP Nutritional review, Iodised Salt is to be added to the WFP food parcel. 150 tons of Iodised Salt has been locally purchased and is expected to be delivered to beneficiaries in the West Bank as of 28th of January. Local purchases of WHFL & Vegetable oil are ongoing to meet the requirements up to the end of April. Other deliveries of previous local food contracts are still ongoing.

(m) WFP met with UNRWA to discuss harmonisation of programmes in oPt and the finalization of the WFP/UNRWA Bedouin study. WFP and FAO meet at the end of the month to establish a common plan of action for the Food

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