Operational Priorities: OPT – WFP report (excerpts)

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PRRO 10387.1 – Targeted Assistance for Relief, Support to Productive Activities and Skills

Development for Vulnerable Non-Refugee Palestinians

September 07 – August 09

Under the PRRO, WFP supports the most vulnerable and food insecure non-refugee population in the West Bank and Gaza who have been affected by a steady decline of living standards, by providing food rations through general distribution (40 percent) food-for-work and food-for training programmes (60 percent).

• While security has improved in Gaza and WFP operations are ongoing, rising poverty and unemployment linked to the current border restrictions threaten to push Gaza's economy to the brink of collapse. WFP is particularly concerned about the impact on factories and small businesses that are being forced to close in absence of raw materials/non food items and access to Israeli markets.

• Farmers are also being adversely affected by the loss of external markets which is resulting in a dramatic drop in the price of locally grown vegetables threatening the viability of the farming industry. Many farmers are not planting the next season's crops as they fear high losses. Some have already had to watch their produce rotting in the fields as the market prices are not even covering the labour of harvesting.

• The higher costs of moving food to Gaza through a limited number of crossing points has increased LTSH costs, and a budget revision for US$1.6 million to cover these costs is in process.

• A very generous response from donors has meant that requirements for 2007 of the current occupied Palestinian territories PRRO and new PRRO, starting September 2007 are fully covered, and part of the needs of 2008 under the new PRRO are also covered.

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