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

WFP Emergency Report No. 40 of 2005

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(2) Occupied Palestinian Territories 

(a) During the reporting period (21 – 28 September), a significant increase of military activity in the Gaza Strip has brought a sharp decline to the security situation, creating grave concerns for the security of WFP staff and hampering WFP field operations. Staff had to significantly reduce their field movements.

(b) The only cargo entry point to the Gaza strip (Karni Terminal), has been closed since 25 September hampering delivery of 129 tons of sugar and 1,354 tons of wheat flour to the Gaza strip. Negotiations with authorities are underway. Despite the West Bank closure, WFP has been granted access for cargo movements to West Bank locations.

(c) Under the new Protracted Relief and Recovery Operation (PRRO 10387.0), which started on 1 September, the basic food needs of both ‘social hardship cases’ and ‘new poor’ will be met through distribution of monthly family rations. While the social hardship cases will receive relief food as part of the Ministry of Social Affairs social protection programme, ‘new poor’ beneficiaries will receive food through participation in Food-for-Work and Food-for-Training activities. The most vulnerable individuals living in institutions will be provided with a daily food ration.

(d) In the West Bank, a joint WFP/Ministry of Social Affairs programming workshop on PRRO implementation was held in Ramallah.

(e) In the Gaza Strip, 971 tons of commodities have been distributed to 43,692 social hardship cases and new poor beneficiaries. This exceptional distribution to the new poor is part of a two months emergency distribution (September-October) to families in the Gaza Strip to support them during the post-disengagement period prior to the start of food for work and food for training.

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