WFP Gaza Emergency, 3 August 2014 – WFP situation report #19

External Situation Report #19 3/August/2014

Highlights

WFP and UNRWA have begun a large scale effort to bring fresh bread to people in shelters, aiming to bring 10 mt of bread from Jerusalem to Gaza each day. This relieves the significant pressure on Gaza bakeries who have power outages, damaged infrastruture, a lack of fuel and security constraints. The bread is also a key element of the ready-to-eat food for people in shelters. Bakers in the West Bank may join the effort in the coming days adding another 10 mt of bread daily to the Jerusalem quantity.
The Logistics Cluster is now active and the first convoy is scheduled to enter Gaza on Monday. While WFP has been able to bring supplies to Gaza, there remain significant constraints within Gaza in bringing food to distribution locations due to security conditions.
As of Sunday, WFP has reached 311,801 conflict affected people in Gaza with emergency food assistance. This is an increase of more than 56,000 people since 31 July. The emergency relief includes:
- Emergency ready-to-eat food for 270,021 displaced people who have taken refuge in UNRWA schools used as shelters and to 15,741 people that are sheltered in public shelters.
- Emergency electronic food vouchers to 4,000 displaced families – approximately 24,000 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.
WFP, together with UNRWA, OCHA, the Food Security Sector, Global Communities, Oxfam GB and others, is constantly assessing new needs arising from the conflict and making every attempt to add new cases as they are identified.

Situation Update

The Shelter Cluster made an initial estimate of 63,000 people who have either lost their homes or are not able to go back to their houses due to significant damage. It is expected that the affected people will be in need of food and other assistance and the numbers may increase when additional areas of Gaza become accessable.
A total of 12 trucks crossed Kerem Shalom crossing today, with canned meat, milk, biscuits, wheat flour and fresh bread produced in Jerusalem.

WFP Response 411

EMERGENCY RESPONSE TO CONFLICT AFFECTED PEOPLE IN GAZA:

FOOD FOR UNRWA SHELTERS: WFP assists approximately 270,021 displaced people in 95 UNRWA shelters with emergency food rations. The number of displaced people in UNRWA shelters continues to increase.
FOOD FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL SHELTERS: WFP distributes emergency food rations to 15,741 displaced people at 19 public shelters.
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 4,000 families (approximately 24,000 people) have been reached with vouchers, an increase of more than 1,700 families since 31 July. Families can use the voucher to buy locally produced food at local shops and after the launch of a 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.
The voucher redemption rate stands at 84 percent. There are 300 families who have not yet redeemed their vouchers. Monitoring shows these families have lost their cards either due to damage to their houses or in the rush of finding shelter, while others couldn't access nearby shops. WFP is working to provide new voucher cards to these families and is adding more voucher shops to the programme for sufficient geographical coverage.
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 regular July-August food distribution cycle in Gaza next week. Wheat flour is being pre-positioned ahead of the distribution.
WFP's regular voucher programme remained functional during the crisis. The voucher redemption rate in the fourth week stands at 95 percent.
Of WFP's 60 voucher shops in Gaza 25 shops were closed Sunday due to security conditions, destruction or damage. WFP is working to add additional voucher shops to its programme. WFP and Oxfam GB are constantly monitoring the voucher system to ensure beneficiaries have access to food in markets during the conflict. Nine voucher shops in damaged areas were able to move to new locations, attracting their original voucher beneficiaries to the new locations to purchase food.

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, shops and to WFP voucher recipients.

Basic commodities:

Bread is scarce and mostly absent from voucher shops, while eggs are the most expensive because some of the large poultry farms have been hit by airstrikes.
Commodities that need to be cooked, such as cannot cook at home.

Wheat and bakeries:

Wheat flour, normally a key commodity, is not in high demand at voucher shops because people are unable to bake bread in their houses.
Millers and bakeries are under significant pressure and are facing increasing demands. Long queues are reported at bakeries. Bakeries are facing challenges with their generators and fuel stock.

Dairy products:

People only buy dairy products for immediate consumption because there is no possibility for refrigeration in houses.

WFP Gaza Emergency, 3 August 2014 – WFP situation report #19

Share This Page, Choose Your Platform!

Subscribe to our mailing list