Assistance to the Palestinian people – Emergency report on OPT – WFP report (excerpts)

World Food Programme Emergency Report 2006

Issued Weekly by the United Nations World Food Programme

Report No. 7 / 2006 – Date 17 February 2006

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(B) Middle East,Central Asia and Eastern Europe: (1) Occupied Palestinian Territories (2) Pakistan

(1) Occupied Palestinian Territories

(a) The sudden upsurge in internal violence directed at International Organisations is a concerning trend and threatens to have a high impact on WP operations if it does not subside.

(b) During the reporting period (1-16 February), hostilities intensified in Gaza with increased targeted killings and shelling, rocket fire, suicide attacks on border crossings.

In addition internal security showed no sign of improvement with continued lawlessness including the kidnap of an Egyptian diplomat. There were large scale demonstrations throughout Gaza Strip protesting against publication of the cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH). These demonstrations have been peaceful however there have been repeated attacks against the EU offices in Gaza, the French Cultural Centre and a Danish Government sponsored vessel.

(c) Hostilities continued throughout the West Bank; the illegal outpost of Armona was removed. There were a number of security incidents in response to publication of the cartoons which have meant many EU and Scandinavian Countries have been forced to temporarily close offices or suspend field operations. Most notably a German teacher was kidnapped in Nablus and the Temporary International Presence in the City of Hebron (TIPH) offices attacked in Hebron forcing the evacuation of some 60 staff; tensions also spilled over into clashes during Fridays prayers in the old city of Jerusalem.

(d) Karni crossing, the main cargo entry-point to Gaza Strip, was reopened on the 6th of February having been closed since the 15th of January owing to a security alert. Erez Terminal, the passenger crossing point from Israel into Gaza Strip, was closed for two days following a barrage of attacks last week. Notably after several weeks of stalemate -during which non diplomatic UN staff were unable to cross – there has been a breakthrough with the return to pre-1996 regulations. This step facilitates the passage of international staff, however the situation for National Staff still remains to be solved. WFP national staff in the WB face increased access restrictions; according to a new regulation, Palestinian staff (not holding Israeli or Jerusalem ID) may enter Israel from the West Bank through 11 crossing points. This affects the individuals, lengthening their daily commute, but also threatens to impede the efficiency of WFP field operations.

(e) In a step towards the food and Nutrition Steering Committee objective to reduce iodine deficiency in oPt and to support the development of national protocols to this effect, Country Director (CD) met joined representatives of UNICEF and Japan to witness the inauguration of a Dead Sea iodine-enriched salt production plant. WFP finalized the first local procurement contract for 150 tons of iodized salt from the factory.

(f) WFP is concerned that a reduction in donor support to Palestinians may lead to deterioration of the humanitarian situation in oPt. WFP currently provides regular foodassistance to the most vulnerable 62 percent of the non-refugee food insecure population; 13 percent of the total population. If further donations do not materialize soon, WFP will be forced to reduce the level of food assistance to this population as of April 2006. WFP is conducting multi-sector contingency planning to prepare for all eventualities of the humanitarian and financial situation.

(g) Under the Protracted Relief and Recovery Operation PRRO 10387, basic food needs of both the Social Hardship Cases (SHC) and New Poor (NP) will be met through distribution of monthly family rations. While the SHC will receive relief food as part of the Ministry of Social Affairs (MSA) programme, ‘new poor’ beneficiaries will receive food through participation in Food-For-Work (FFW) and Food-For-Training (FFT) activities implemented through Catholic Relief Services (CRS), Community Housing and Finance (CHF) and Ministry of Agriculture (MOA). The most vulnerable individuals living in institutions will be provided with a daily food ration through the MSA in Gaza Strip and CRS in West Bank.

(h) In West Bank, distributions continued to SHC for the November-December allocation. In central and southern governorates 53 tons were delivered to 382 families whilst in the north 192 tons were distributed to 1,932 families.

(i) In Gaza Strip, MSA continued the distribution of January / February allocation to SHC, a total of 520 tons of food was distributed to 4036 families during the reporting period.

(j) In West Bank, CRS continued distributions to NP in Bethlehem and Hebron governorates. During the reporting period, 380 tons of commodities were distributed to 17,892 beneficiaries in Hebron, and 160 tons to 6,768 beneficiaries in Bethlehem rural areas. These distributions are part of October, November and December allocations. CHF distributed a total of 576 tons of WFP food commodities to 22,422 beneficiaries in Nablus and Jenin under the October-November allocations in Nablus and Jenin. MOA distributed 42.96 MT of mixed food commodities to 1,550 beneficiaries of the New Poor caseload in Qalqilia governorate. This distribution is part of the October/November allocations.

(k) In Gaza Strip, The MOA FFW/T with farmers is ongoing smoothly in all governorates. MOA Bedouin selection has been completed in the South and is ongoing in the Middle areas. WFP Cooperating Partners (CPs) are constantly crosschecking lists with UNRWA and replacing any duplicated names with new ones provided by the local selection committees. FFT activities targeting women has started on a small scale in the south and will start soon in the other two directorates. WFP deliveries of November/December allocation to CHF are ongoing and will be completed by next week. CHF FFW activities with landless daily wage earners are on going as per activity plan. The first stage of CHF beneficiary database (funded by WFP) is completed; it will be tested by MOA and WFP.

(l) Monitoring visits to the 30 institutions in northern West Bank governorates are ongoing.

(m) In West Bank, WFP was represented at the monthly humanitarian forum organized by OCHA in Ramallah governorate. An update on the different humanitarian projects implemented by different organizations was presented, and an update on theconstruction of the wall was also presented by OCHA. WFP agreed to provide $20,000 of ODOC to the Ministry of Agriculture and $15,000 to CRS to enhance their capacity to manage food aid programmes (FFW/T) by focusing on areas where WFP has a comparative advantage.

(n) In Gaza Strip, WFP attended a Contingency planning meeting with UN agencies (OCHA, UNSCO, UNICEF, WHO and WFP) to discus the development of the political/security situation and update the contingency planning of UN agencies in Gaza accordingly.

(o) VAM M&E conducted a review of UNRWA and WFP food assistance in oPt to compare the food assistance to the respective food insecurity in order to improve targeting of the most vulnerable. VAM M&E met with ECHO to brief the new focal point on WFP food assistance in oPt. ECHO has asked WFP to present its VAM activities and food security data to ECHO sponsored NGOs involved in the food security sector. VAM M&E attended the UN agency advocacy meeting co-chaired by UNSCO and OCHA. The UN will produce a list of activities conducted since disengagement to share with media and donors.

(p) VAM M&E and pipeline worked together on finalising the SPR drafts. The needs and shortfalls report for January was also finalised.

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