World Food Programme Emergency Report 2006 – WFP report no. 40 (excerpts)

World Food Programme Emergency Report 2006

Issued Weekly by the United Nations World Food Programme

Report No. 37 / 2006 – Date 06 October 2006

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

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(2) occupied Palestinian territories

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(a) The reporting period (15 – 30 September) was marked by further strikes among Palestinian National Authority (PNA) staff and an eruption of internal violence throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory, with the highest intensity witnessed in Gaza. The WFP team in Gaza are working under enhanced security procedures and three field trips had to be cancelled during the reporting period for security reasons. Access for UN staff outside of Gaza remains problematic – both for non-diplomatic and national staff. The security situation in the West Bank has seen a significant deterioration compared to previous months and all areas of the West Bank – other than Bethlehem and Ramallah – are restricted to essential travel only. Security procedures are being strengthened to ensure full and strict compliance with the phase three restrictions. Furthermore, the end of September marks three months of complete fishing restrictions on Gaza affecting 35,000 people.

(b) Project preparation continued despite ongoing strikes at two of WFP’s partner organisations, the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) and the Ministry of Social Affairs (MSA). The most comprehensive strikes remain in the West Bank where implementation has been slightly delayed. In Gaza the implementation through the Ministries remains on schedule.

(c) Gaza Strip: MOA is now completing data entry of beneficiary lists to the central database for food for work/training (FFWT). WFP partner CHF has finished data entry, and is cross-checking lists; CHF local committees are finalising the work plans for FFWT activities to start in early October. WFP visited all institutions to be included in the Institutional Feeding (IF) programme under the next phase of the protracted relief and recovery operation (PRRO).

(d) West Bank: In Jenin, Nablus and Ramallah governorates, CHF has completed the selection of warehouses for FFWT; formed new local committees and trained them on WFP FFWT guidelines; finalized the selection of beneficiaries and prepared the work plans for joint review. During the reporting period, a total of some 21 tons of salt were delivered to CHF. In Tulkarem, Qalquilia, Tubas and Salfeet governorates the preparation process has been halted since the beginning of the MOA strikes in early September. In Hebron, Bethlehem, Jerusalem and Jericho, WFP partner CRS selected warehouses, and is now finalizing the selection of warehouses in Jerusalem governorate. Ninety-five percent of the local committee formation and training is now completed and selection of the additional caseload is underway. A total of 21 tons of wheat flour and vegetable oil were delivered to MSA warehouses in the West Bank during the reporting period. In addition, MSA distributed 252 tons of mixed commodities to 2,029 beneficiaries in Ramallah, Hebron, Qalqiliya and Nablus governorates. The reduced distribution rates are the result of MSA strikes.

(e) A market survey was conducted at the level of the five governorates of Gaza Strip on 26 – 27 September. While Karni crossing has been opened to palletised commercial cargo – allowing much needed supplies to get through – the backlog of goods is such that prices are disrupted. Food processing factories are facing continued shortages of raw materials. Prices of sugar and vegetables are rising slightly and transport costs inside Israel for food commodities increased five fold due to the closure of the Karni crossing. The purchasing power of most customers remains at a minimum level. A market survey was also conducted in four governorates of the West Bank: Ramallah, Nablus, Tulkarm and Hebron.

(f) The fourth joint UN/NGO coordination meeting was chaired by WFP Gaza, to discuss the coordination of food aid distributions during Ramadan. A FAO/WFP food security working group meeting was held at Gaza WFP sub-office. The Minister of Agriculture visited WFP local committees in Southern Gaza and the MOA proposed a survey to identify the most relevant projects for the area. The WFP Country Director met with the Ministry of Education to discuss a pilot school feeding project with 50,000 participants in the West Bank and Gaza.

(g) A total of 2,865 tons of food commodities was delivered during the reporting period (487 tons in the Gaza Strip and 2,377 tons in the West Bank). Seven warehouse monitoring visits were conducted in Gaza.

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