WFP Gaza Emergency, 27 July 2014 – WFP situation report #16

External Situation Report #16 27/July/2014

Highlights

WFP has issued an emergency appeal and will require a total of US$ 35 million to meet the food needs of people in Gaza and the West Bank from July to December 2014. This amount includes an estimated US$15 million to meet urgent humanitarian needs of 230,000 people affected by the conflict in Gaza – noting that the requirements continue to rise given the increasing needs.
Today, WFP has reached over 184,580 conflict-affected people in Gaza with emergency food assistance. This is in addition to the 285,000 people WFP reaches regularly with food assistance. The emergency relief includes:
- Emergency ready-to-eat food for 167,269 displaced people in Gaza that have taken refuge in UNRWA schools used as shelters and to 8,995 people that are sheltered in public school buildings.
- Emergency electronic food vouchers to 1,333 displaced families – approximately 7,998 people – who are living with host families.
- A total of 2,039 patients and staff in hospitals continue to be assisted with emergency food rations.
At the request of partners, the Logistics Cluster is in the process of being formally activated. The Logistics Cluster will enable food, non-food items and other humanitarian relief from a range of organizations to be brought into Gaza.
During this crisis, WFP and UNICEF have joint forces to offer a single voucher card that can be used to buy food, water and sanitary items.

Situation Update

Today 12 WFP trucks entered into Gaza:
- Two trucks loaded with approximately 20 mt of biscuits.
- Three trucks loaded with approximately 51 mt of milk.
- Three trucks loaded with approximately 110 mt of wheat flour.
- Four trucks loaded with approximately 99 mt of canned meat.
- Additional milk, canned meat, biscuits and canned beans are currently being procured.
- Kerem Shalom cargo crossing is reportedly closed on the first day of Eid, which is either 28 or 29 July.
- WFP is in the process of signing another four contracts with bakeries in order to cope with the increasing needs.

WFP Response

EMERGENCY RESPONSE TO CONFLICT AFFECTED PEOPLE IN GAZA:

FOOD FOR UNRWA SHELTERS: WFP assists approximately 167,269 displaced people in 84 UNRWA shelters with emergency food rations. The food basket has been diversified with WFP now providing bread, canned meat and milk, while UNRWA provides other ready-to-eat commodities and vegetables.
FOOD FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL SHELTERS: WFP distributes emergency food rations to 8,995 displaced people at 12 government schools.
VOUCHERS FOR FAMILIES SHELTERING IN HOST COMMUNITIES: WFP and Oxfam GB are distributing emergency food vouchers to displaced families who are staying in host communities. A total of 1,333 families (7,998 people) have been reached with vouchers. Families can use the voucher to buy locally produced food at local shops and after the launch of WFP-UNICEF partnership, families also have the option to buy water and sanitation products. The vouchers have an overall value of approximately US$ 128 (440 NIS) per month, for an average family of six.
Approximately 66 percent of the families have purchased non-food items this week, such as water and sanitation products, at 11 shops. WFP has received new requests to provide voucher assistance to displaced families at host communities and expects to distribute additional vouchers once the crosschecking process is completed.

FOOD FOR HOSPITALS: WFP is reaching approximately 2,040 patients and hospital staff emergency food rations.

WFP's ONGOING PRE-CONFLICT PROGRAMMES:

If security conditions permit, WFP will start with the July-August food distribution cycle in Gaza in the first week of August.
WFP's regular voucher programme is ongoing during the crisis. However, 13 voucher shops in the areas of Shuja'iyya, Al Tofah and Beit Lahia are closed. One voucher shop in Shuja'iyya is completely destroyed, while another is severely damaged. WFP and Oxfam are working on a solution to ensure beneficiaries can access food in these areas.
More information about voucher redemption rates for regular food voucher recipients will be available soon.

Monitoring

Due to the current security situation in Gaza, WFP's monitoring activities have been mostly restricted to remote monitoring, mostly via telephone calls to traders and shops. On Saturday 26 July, WFP's field monitors carried out a market survey during the humanitarian pause.

Basic commodities:

Overall, prices are still within range from pre-conflict levels, apart from evident increases in vegetable prices and some increases for different types of meat.
Most commodities are available at traders' storages, but many shop owners are facing difficulties in accessing and transporting the goods to the shops.

Wheat and bakeries:

The total stock of wheat available at Gaza mills as of today is 7,920 mt, sufficient to cover the needs of the population for approximately 13 days.
Fuel stock at WFP contracted bakeries: Al Bann has a stock to cover at least 10 days, Ajour has a stock that covers the needs for 30 days, and Al Jonoub bakery has a stock to cover their needs for at least 20 days while Al Yazji has a stock to cover the needs at least for 25 days.

Dairy products:

WFP Gaza Emergency, 27 July 2014 – WFP situation report #16

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