WFP Gaza Emergency, 26 August 2014 – WFP situation report #25

External Situation Report #25 26/August/2014

Highlights

WFP is facing critical funding shortfalls for its Gaza emergency response and requires approximately US$ 70 million – an official updated appeal will be send out in the next days. In response to the shortfalls WFP is reducing the food rations which are being provided to displaced people in UNRWA shelters.

Situation Update

The number of displaced people in Gaza is estimated to be around 500,000. An estimated 100,000 people will not be able to return to their homes after a ceasefire, and will be in need of food and other assistance for a longer period. The livelihoods of almost the entire population of Gaza have been severely affected or lost.
WFP continues to transport food into Gaza to reach affected people with food assistance. Between 22 and 25 August 26 WFP trucks crossed from Israel into Gaza through Kerem Shalom cargo crossing. The trucks carried pulses, milk, canned meat and wheat flour.

WFP Response

While people in Gaza are displaced, they receive a special emergency ration of ready-to-eat food.
Once people return to their homes or a location with a host community where they can cook, store food, etc. people will receive either in-kind food assistance or voucher assistance. The in-kind assistance, is being delivered through the following two modalities:
One-time special food parcels with a focus on host communities supporting people in their homes.
WFP or UNRWA's regular in-kind food distribution – this is the case for people who were already part of these programmes.
WFP and UNRWA cooperate closely to cross check lists of beneficiaries to ensure that those receiving the special food parcels are not part of WFP's or UNRWA's regular food assistance programmes. A complaint system has also been activated. Cross checking of lists and complaint systems allow WFP and UNRWA to immediately address inclusion and exclusion errors during challenging times.
As the situation allows, WFP will progressively shift from in-kind assistance to voucher assistance for returnees to support them with their immediate needs, while assessing the most appropriate interventions to support the rebuilding of their livelihoods.

ASSISTANCE DELIVERED TO DATE

SPECIAL FOOD DISTRIBUTIONS: Between WFP's partner Global Communities and UNRWA, approximately 527,000 people (or 72 percent) out of the 730,000 people targeted have been reached with food parcels. More than 994 metric tons (mt) of rice and 2,981 mt of wheat flour has been distributed.
FOOD FOR UNRWA SHELTERS: WFP assists approximately 327,118 displaced people in 91 UNRWA shelters with emergency food rations.
FOOD FOR PUBLIC SHELTERS: WFP distributes emergency food rations to 12,829 displaced people at 17 public shelters.
VOUCHERS FOR FAMILIES SHELTERING IN HOST COMMUNITIES: WFP and Oxfam GB are distributing emergency electronic food vouchers to 108,000 people (18,000 families) living in host communities. This programme is being scaled up as additional people are being identified as in need.
Families can use the voucher to buy locally produced food at local shops. A WFP-UNICEF partnership enables families to be able to purchase water and sanitation products in addition to food with a single voucher.
The vouchers have an overall value of approximately US$ 128 (440 NIS) per month, for an average family of six.
The redemption rate for the emergency vouchers this week stands at 86 percent. This percentage is expected to rise in the next days. Voucher recipients can use their cards in a total of 72 voucher shops in the five governorates across the Gaza Strip.
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 completed the regular July-August food distribution cycle, reaching 95,000 people. A total of 150 families did not show up at the distribution points in Gaza City and Khan Younis. Global Communities is working to reach the remaining families to distribute the food rations.
WFP's regular voucher programme, targeting 60,000 people, remained functional during the crisis. The voucher redemption rate at the start of the fourth week of August stands at 88 percent.
WFP's School meals programme, which was due to start at the beginning of the new school year, has been suspended until a ceasefire agreement has been reached and students can go back to school. WFP is working to adjust the programme in response to the conflict.

Monitoring

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

Basic commodities:

Pressure remains on the availability of bread and eggs.
The lack of electricity limits the storage capacity for fresh food for both shops and households.

Wheat and bakeries:

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

Dairy products:

WFP Gaza Emergency, 26 August 2014 – WFP situation report #25

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