World Food Programme Emergency Report 2006 – WFP report no. 27 (excerpts)

World Food Programme Emergency Report 2006

Issued Weekly by the United Nations World Food Programme

Report No. 27 / 2006 – Date 7 July 2006

(B) Middle East,Central Asia and Eastern Europe:

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(2) occupied Palestinian territories

 (a) An Israeli military operation (“summer rain”) started late on 27 June and continues to this date. Israeli troops control key areas to the North and South East of the Gaza Strip and strategic infrastructure including bridges, roads and the main Power station were damaged. The pressure exerted on the population is increasing daily, in the form of limited electricity, water shortage, limited movement. Sanitation facilities are also at risk as a result of the current offensive. Two field trips were cancelled to the southern area during the reporting period for security reasons.

(b) WFP is extremely concerned about the food security situation in Gaza. The current Israeli operation threatens to perpetuate an already critical situation in Gaza. 70 percent of people are food insecure. The majority of people are now living below subsistence levels and there are many new groups affected which are not currently covered by WFP and UNRWA distribution systems.

(c) WFP have targeted and made food distributions to 160,000 of the most food insecure non refugees out of a total 440,000 non refugees in Gaza in June/July; however there remain 280,000 non refugees uncovered by assistance (previously not eligible). UNRWA has made recent distributions to all refugees.

(d) Karni, the main cargo crossing point between Israel and Gaza was closed from 13th June until 2 July affecting imports and exports. After a week of complete closure, the Israeli authorities agreed to respond to the UN request for a humanitarian corridor for relief items to enter Gaza. The entry of fuel and commercial supplies into Gaza on 2 July was a positive step to slightly easing the humanitarian situation and deterring the looming fuel crisis which threatened to have extremely negative consequences. However there remains the need for a continuous humanitarian corridor to bring vital relief items into Gaza.

(e) WFP Cooperating Partners in Gaza have also been affected by the power shortages. This is making implementation more costly and complicated. As of 02 July, WFP reported shortages of sugar, animal feed, milk and dairy products in the market and 10 percent increase in prices of basic commodities. This particularly affects children more heavily reliant on milk products.

(f) WFP intends to make an emergency distribution to affected non refugee areas if needed in cooperation with UNRWA and ICRC. WFP stocks in Gaza are enough to cover WFP caseload (160,000 people) for 10 days.

(g) WFP has ceased all Food-for-Work and Food-for-Training in Gaza for 2 – 3 months (until further notice) owing to the crisis in Gaza. All beneficiaries will receive a General Distribution without the work element until the crisis is resolved.

(h) Under the budget revision, WFP plans to increase General Distribution by 60,000 people in Gaza and 10,000 people in the West Bank. To increase Food for Work/Training (FFW/T) by 40,000 in the West Bank, and to extend FFWT in the West Bank from 16 – 19 months.

(i) The forth cycle of General Distributions (March /April) are ongoing in both the West Bank and Gaza Strip. In the West Bank, 63,000 beneficiaries received 1,400 tons of WFP food commodities. In Gaza, 84,707 beneficiaries received a total of 2173 tons of mixed WFP food commodities under the fourth cycle March/April allocation and part of May/June allocation. Ministry of Social Affairs (MSA) Rafah & Khan Younis completed their distribution under May/June o6 allocation.

(j) In the West Bank, distributions are ongoing covering distributions upto May. During the reporting period, a total of 82,000 beneficiaries received 2,300 tons of WFP food commodities through FFW/T modalities. In the Gaza Strip, a total of 2800 tons of food was distributed to 97,300 beneficiaries under FFW/T.

(k) In Gaza Strip, 236 tons were distributed under January-April allocations to 37 institutions out of 39 institutions. Gaza institutions have 3 months supply of food.

(l) MSA in the West Bank made an emergency distribution in 6 governorates for people on the social safety net “waiting list”- suffering heavily from the current crisis. This emergency distribution served 26,000 people in Hebron, Bethlehem, Jericho, Ramallah, Jerusalem and Salfit. All these families received the regular WFP food basket made up of 5 commodities.

(m) An emergency needs assessment conducted in Southern Gaza by ICRC on 2 July shows that people in Shouqa have enough food supplies for the time being (some of this population are WFP New Poor beneficiaries).

(n) WFP, in cooperation with UNRWA and ICRC, continue to monitor civilian populations in areas most affected by the ongoing operation and will standby to respond to any emerging food needs as part of a coordinated emergency response. WFP emergency stocks in the Karni warehouse are equivalent to 10 days supply to our caseload.

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