Operational Priorities: OPT – WFP report (excerpts)

OPERATIONAL PRIORITIES

November 2007

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Occupied Palestinian Territory

PRRO 10387.0 – Protracted Relief Operation for Non-Refugee Palestinians

01 September 2007 – 31 August 2009

The WFP operation in OPT meets the food needs of the most vulnerable non-refugees in Gaza and the West Bank through protracted and emergency relief and supports productive activities and skills development. It also focuses on improving targeting and coordination, as well as ensuring the effective use of resources, while minimizing the negative effects of reduced production on markets.

• Generous contributions have secured the immediate pipeline for the major commodities for OPT. However, further pledges are required to ensure that forseen shortfalls starting in March 2008 do not affect the already hard hit Palestinian population. In January there are breaks in supplies of meat, fish and dates, which complement the food basket.

• According to a WFP Food Security assessment carried out in October 2007, wheat prices increased by 40 percent from June to September 2007. Bread, the staple food of the poorest population, has increased by 20 percent; rice has increased in price by 15 percent per bag since June 2007.

• After almost five months of tight Israeli restrictions, supplies of basic food and other basic commodities are running very low. Stocks of items such as fruit juice and cleaning products are depleted in many places and the population is heavily affected by shortages of books, clothes, spare parts and other items. Proposed fuel and power cuts to Gaza will continue to erode what remains of a once-thriving economy.

• WFP's operation meets the food needs of the most vulnerable non-refugees in Gaza and the West Bank through protracted and emergency relief and supports productive activities and skills development. It also focuses on improving targeting and coordination, as well as ensuring the effective use of resources, while minimizing the negative effects of reduced production on markets.

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