WFP Gaza Emergency, 18 July 2014 – WFP situation report #12



External Situation Report #12 18/July/2014

Highlights

  • WFP is providing emergency assistance to 29,150 people displaced by the conflict in Gaza. This is in addition to the 285,000 people WFP reaches regularly with food assistance in Gaza. The emergency relief includes:
    • Emergency ready-to-eat food for approximately 23,000 displaced people that have taken refuge in UNRWA shelters.
    • Emergency electronic food vouchers to 685 displaced families – approximately 4,110 people- who are living with host families.
    • Patients and staff in hospitals continue to be assisted with emergency food rations.
  • As a next step, WFP is working with UNICEF to include water and sanitation items in the vouchers. In addition, WFP is working to supplement the emergency food rations of bread and canned tuna in shelters with additional items and the use of vouchers, and in hospitals with food which can be cooked in hospital kitchens.

Situation Update

GAZA

  • WFP has pre-programmed an additional 1,400 emergency food vouchers as a contingency.
  • The total commercial stock of wheat in Gaza is sufficient to cover the needs of the entire Gazan population for approximately 16 days.
  • WFP contracted bakeries are on standby to produce additional bread when requested. WFP also has an emergency stock of tuna of 133 mt which would feed more than 55,600 people for 16 days.
  • Stocks of WFP commodities at cooperating partners' warehouses and bakeries is around 2,354 mt which could be utilized to meet emergency needs. These stocks can meet the needs of WFP's 177,000 in-kind beneficiaries for around eighteen days.
  • In case of an emergency, WFP has access to 4,750 mt of excess wheat flour stored at local mills in Gaza. Together with wheat grain, which is currently being milled, the excess flour will cover the needs of WFP's 177,000 beneficiaries in Gaza for approximately two months.

WEST BANK

  • The total stock of commercial staple foods available in the West Bank is sufficient to feed the entire West Bank population for one month in the event of a complete closure – until now the flow of commodities has not been interrupted.
  • WFP's current stock of wheat is 4,895 mt, sufficient to cover WFP's in-kind caseload of 193,000 people for 4.5 months
  • Stocks of other WFP commodities in the West Bank is 1358 mt and can meet the needs of WFP's 193,000 in-kind beneficiaries for 4.5-5 months.
  • In case of an emergency, WFP also has access to an additional 6,000 mt wheat flour. The excess flour will cover the needs of WFP's 193,000 beneficiaries in the West Bank for approximately 5 months.
  • WFP has programmed 500 emergency vouchers for the West Bank, 250 for Hebron governorate and 250 for Nablus governorate, as a contingency and is prepared to move from electronic vouchers to a manual system in case connectivity is limited.

WFP Response

GAZA

Emergency response:

  • WFP in cooperation with UNRWA, assists almost 23,000 people displaced in shelters with emergency food rations. The number of displaced people in UNRWA shelters has now, as of 18 July, reached approximately 40,000. WFP will scale-up its assistance to meet the needs of the newly displaced people.
  • In cooperation with Oxfam GB, WFP is distributing emergency food vouchers to displaced families whose houses were destroyed or severely damaged and who are staying at relatives. A total of 685 families (4,110 people) have been reached with vouchers. In the next days, WFP will distribute an additional 298 emergency food vouchers to newly displaced families. All families receive a voucher with a monthly value of 240 NIS, or 60 NIS per week.
  • WFP continues to provide food assistance to hospitals. The July-August distribution cycle to institutions, including hospitals, which was planned to start in the first week of August, commenced on the 13 July to meet the immediate needs.
  • WFP also continues to reach patients and staff in hospitals with additional food assistance relating to the surge in patients and staff working long hours due to the conflict. WFP is reaching approximately 2,040 patients and hospital staff with bread parcels and canned tuna. WFP is working to include this surge operation with rations which can be cooked in hospital kitchens.

General food distributions:

  • All General Food Distributions for the May-June cycle in Gaza, reaching 177,000 people, were completed end of June. WFP targeted households have sufficient food in their homes through August.
  • The July-August distribution cycle in Gaza, which was initially supposed to start in the first week of August, will now start next week if security conditions permit.

Food voucher programme:

  • All beneficiaries have redeemed their entitlements for the third week of July.
  • Previous monitoring of WFP voucher shops has showed that shopkeepers have up to two months of stocks, except for dairy products, which need to be replenished by-weekly.
  • Voucher shops are currently operating on a daily basis from 10:00 am until 8:00 pm. The required connectivity for the electronic voucher is generally available.

WEST BANK

General food distributions:

  • General Food Distributions for the April-June cycle in the West Bank, targeting 193,000 people, have been finalized.
  • The July-September distribution cycle in the West Bank will start in the first week of August.

Food voucher programme:

  • WFP continues to assess the impact of the situation in the West Bank on the voucher programme. So far no shortages have been reported.

Monitoring

Due to the current security situation in Gaza, WFP's monitoring activities have been restricted. Monitoring in the West Bank is ongoing.

GAZA

Basic commodities:

  • During the five-hour humanitarian pause on 17 July, markets and shops were open and people purchased food in large quantities. Food stocks in stores were reportedly thin. It is expected the stores are able to replenish their stocks but WFP is watching this issue closely.
  • All types of vegetables are available, but in less quantities because farmers cannot access their lands due to the security situation. Prices of  vegetables have gone up, such as for tomatoes, cucumbers and lemons.
  • Dairy producers shifted to increased production of long shelf-life products to minimize losses.

Wheat and bakeries:

  • The three WFP contracted bakeries and other public bakeries are operating normally.
  • Fuel stock at WFP contracted bakeries: Al Bann and Ajour bakeries have a stock that covers their needs for 60 days. Al Jonoub bakery has a stock to cover their needs for at least 40 days.
  • All mills are still working and have reported a fuel stock of at least one and up to two months.
  • Mills in Gaza noted a low demand for wheat flour, most likely due to Ramadan and because people are lacking financial resources.

Dairy products:

  • Importers of dairy products from the West Bank keep a stock for two weeks. Local dairy products are also available and could cover shortages in Gaza in the event of a closure of Kerem Shalom cargo crossing.

Field observations:

Streets in Gaza are empty and shops are closed early. People only leave their houses to purchase the very essential, particularly food.

WEST BANK

Basic commodities:

  • The food security situation in the West Bank remains stable. No price changes or shortages were noted for basic commodities.
  • Purchase levels during Ramadan are lower than in previous years due to the uncertainty about the security situation.
  • Market analysis only shows a small increase in the price of rice as well as a slight increase in the prices of tomato and chicken.

Wheat:

  • Wheat is widely available and fluctuations are not expected. Bakeries are also functioning as usual.

Dairy products:

  • Dairy products are available, but producers in the Hebron area reported a drop in sales of up to 30 percent over the past weeks due to access restrictions.

Food Security Sector & Clusters

  • The Food Security Sector (FSS) has prepared a first assessment of the emergency needs and of the potential needs following the current emergency.
  • The FSS is preparing an in-depth food security needs assessment, using smart phones to collect data. The assessment will take place as soon as the circumstances in Gaza allow.
  • In case of large scale displacement as result of increased violence, WFP remains ready for the activation of the clusters under its responsibility.

Resourcing Update

  • WFP's core humanitarian programmes in Palestine are facing critical funding shortfalls. The estimated funding requirements for all operations until the end of 2014 are US$ 20 million: US$ 5 million in Gaza and US$ 15 million in the West Bank.
  • Humanitarian needs as a result of the emergency in Gaza will require additional resources – a formal request will be made soon by WFP and partners.
  • Rossella Fanelli

    Head of External Relations

    Email: Rossella.fanelli@wfp.org

    Tel: [+972] 2 5401340 2210

    Yasmine Abuelassal

    Donor Relations

    Email: Yasmin.abuelassal@wfp.org

    Tel: [+972] 2 5401340 2215

    Colin Kampschöer

    Reports Officer

    Email: Colin.kampschoer@wfp.org

    Tel: [+972] 54 677 3136


2019-03-12T17:33:07-04:00

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