WFP Gaza Emergency, 2 September 2014 – WFP situation report #26

External Situation Report #26 02/September/2014

Highlights

On 27 August and on 2 September two WFP humanitarian convoys successfully crossed from Egypt into the Gaza Strip through the Rafah crossing. The opening of the Rafah crossing for humanitarian aid provides a major opportunity to scale up aid delivery to Gaza. The convoy carried a combined load of 25,000 food parcels, enough to feed approximately 150,000 people for five days.
After the ceasefire agreement, which went into effect on 26 August, the number of displaced people in UNRWA and public shelters dropped substantially from more than 340,000 people to approximately 58,000, while the number of people staying with host families remains high.
WFP requires approximately US$63 million for its emergency humanitarian response in Gaza for a period of three months and a further US$20 million to continue its regular programmes in Gaza and the West Bank.

Situation Update

An estimated 100,000 people will not be able to return to their homes after the ceasefire went into effect, 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. In the last week, between 26 August and 2 September, a total of 30 WFP trucks crossed from Israel into Gaza through Kerem Shalom cargo crossing. The trucks carried pulses, milk, canned meat and wheat flour.

WFP Response

DURING THE CURRENT TRANSITION PERIOD WFP IS PRIORITIZING:

VOUCHERS: for an estimated 50,000 families (or 300,000 people) returning home from shelters and host families, WFP will provide electronic food vouchers that will enable people to purchase food in local markets.
EMERGENCY FOOD ASSISTANCE: to people who remain in UNRWA and public shelters will continue.
WFP and UNRWA are providing ready-to-eat food to approximately 58,000 people who remain in shelters.
SPECIAL FOOD DISTRIBUTIONS: UNRWA, WFP and partner Global Communities, have completed the distribution of wheat flour and rice to people who do not receive food assistance as part of the regular programmes. Approximately 690,000 people have received this food. This distribution was intended to ensure all families in need in Gaza have basic sustenance during this critical transition period. More than 1,150 metric tons (mt) of rice and 3,448 mt of wheat flour has been distributed.
SCHOOL MEALS PROGRAMME: WFP and partners are working to support the opening of schools with an emergency school meals programme.
FOOD FOR HOSPITALS: WFP is reaching approximately 2,040 patients and hospital staff with emergency food rations.
EARLY RECOVERY ACTIVITIES: When conditions permit, WFP and partners will launch early recovery work activities, including restoring agriculture infrastructure, supported by food vouchers.

WFP's ONGOING PROGRAMMES:

WFP and Global Communities completed the regular food distribution cycle to 95,000 people in late August. The next cycle will be ready for distribution in October.
WFP's regular voucher programme which is implemented together with Oxfam GB, targeting 60,000 people, remained functional during the crisis. The voucher redemption rate in the fourth week of August reached 99 percent.

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:

People mostly buy dairy products for immediate consumption, or products such as shelf life milk, because there is no possibility for refrigeration in houses.

Food Security Sector

Together with humanitarian partners in Palestine, the Food Security Sector (FSS) has completed the two phases of the Multi-Cluster/Sector Initial Rapid Assessment (MIRA). Analysis of the results is currently taking place.
The FSS is leading the Emergency Food Security and Agriculture damages Assessment (EFSAA) in Gaza. The EFSAA is a rapid qualitative assessment of the food security and livelihood situation of households in the Gaza Strip.

Subscribe to our mailing list