WFP Gaza Emergency, 10 August 2014 – WFP situation report #21

External Situation Report #21 10/August/2014

Highlights

After more than 30 days of hostilities, the humanitarian situation in Gaza is dire and many people are in need of food assistance. To provide relief, WFP together with UNRWA and the Palestinian Authority Ministry of Social Affairs, will start food assistance on the 11th of August to 730,000 affected people, who are not part of WFP or UNRWA's regular food assistance programmes. The food parcel contains 10 Kg of rice, 30 Kg of wheat flour and other commodities, which together are sufficient to feed a family for one month.
In anticipation of the large number of displaced people that will go back home when there is a ceasefire, WFP is shifting its emergency ready-to -eat food distributions to electronic food vouchers and is now reaching 8,000 families, doubling the number of families reached four days ago.
On 10 August, WFP reached a total of 325,880 conflict affected people in Gaza with emergency food assistance. The number of people reached fluctuated over the past days after the announcement of a ceasefire and the following renewed hostilities. Emergency relief includes:
- Emergency ready-to-eat food for 262,849 displaced people who have taken refuge in UNRWA schools used as shelters and to 12,992 people that are staying in public shelters.
- Emergency electronic food vouchers to 8,000 displaced families – approximately 48,000 people – who are living with host families.
- A total of 2,039 patients and staff in hospitals continue to be assisted with emergency food rations.

Situation Update

A high number of people continue to stay in UNRWA and public shelters. Food and water remain top priorities, while fear of disease outbreak is also a major concern.
After the ceasefire ended on 8 August, WFP and Global Communities suspended the regular in-kind food distributions which started on 5 August. If security conditions permit the distributions will start again on 11 August.
Kerem Shalom crossing was closed for half a day on 10 August after rockets landed in close vicinity to the cargo crossing.

WFP Response

EMERGENCY RESPONSE TO CONFLICT AFFECTED PEOPLE IN GAZA:

FOOD FOR UNRWA SHELTERS: WFP assists approximately 262,849 displaced people in 99 UNRWA shelters with emergency food rations.
FOOD FOR PUBLIC SHELTERS: WFP distributes emergency food rations to 12,992 displaced people at 16 public shelters.
VOUCHERS FOR FAMILIES SHELTERING IN HOST COMMUNITIES: WFP and Oxfam GB are distributing emergency food vouchers to displaced families who are staying in host communities. A total of 8,000 families (approximately 48,000 people) are being reached with vouchers. Families can use the voucher to buy locally produced food at local shops and after the launch of a WFP-UNICEF partnership, families also have the option to buy water and sanitation products. The vouchers have an overall value of approximately US$ 128 (440 NIS) per month, for an average family of six.
The voucher redemption rate stands at 84 percent. WFP and Oxfam GB are working to provide new voucher cards to families who have lost their cards and are adding more voucher shops to the programme for sufficient geographical coverage. The target is to include 45 additional shops on top of the 60 shops that are currently part of the programme.
A total of 10,000 extra voucher cards are being printed as a contingency.
FOOD FOR HOSPITALS: WFP is reaching approximately 2,040 patients and hospital staff emergency food rations.

WFP's ONGOING PRE-CONFLICT PROGRAMMES:

WFP and Global Communities resumed the regular July-August food distribution cycle, targeting 85,000 people, on 5 August during the 72-hour ceasefire agreement. The distribution was suspended when the ceasefire ended on 8 August. Global Communities and WFP are working to resume the distribution on 11 August, if security conditions permit.
WFP's regular voucher programme, targeting 60,000 people, remained functional during the crisis. The voucher redemption rate in the second week of August stands at 75 percent.

Monitoring

WFP is closely monitoring the food security situation in Gaza and the available stocks at voucher shops.

Basic commodities:

Pressure on the availability of bread in Gaza remains. WFP has scaled up the transfer of bread from the West Bank and East Jerusalem to Gaza. Eggs are expensive because some of Gaza's large poultry farms have been severely damaged.

Wheat and bakeries:

Pressure on bakeries remains because of the high demand for bread. Bakeries face challenges with their generators and fuel stock.

Dairy products:

People only buy dairy products for immediate consumption because there is no possibility for refrigeration in houses.

WFP Gaza Emergency, 10 August 2014 – WFP situation report #21

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