WFP Gaza Emergency, 18 August 2014 – WFP situation report #23

External Situation Report #23 18/August/2014

Highlights

WFP and UNRWA have launched a special food distribution providing 730,000 conflict-affected people in Gaza with food assistance. The beneficiaries are not part of WFP or UNRWA's regular food assistance programmes. This is a special distribution to help families address food needs linked to the conflict. Between 11 and 17 August 18,409 metric tons (mt) of rice and 1,227 mt of wheat flour was distributed between WFP and UNRWA.
WFP continues to expand the emergency voucher project. WFP and Oxfam GB monitoring has showed that local markets have sufficient capacity for a further expansion of the project which enables voucher recipients to buy goods in local markets.
Humanitarian needs in Gaza are being assessed through inter-agency and joint assessments. The Multi-Cluster/Sector Initial Rapid Assessment (MIRA) is currently taking place and will be followed by the Emergency Food Security and Agriculture damages Assessment (EFSAA).
WFP requires US$ 48 million for Gaza emergency response, of which US$ 15 million is urgently required for emergency food assistance in September and October.

Situation Update

WFP and its partners continue to procure and transport food into Gaza to reach additional affected people with food assistance. Between 14 and 18 August, a total of 48 WFP trucks crossed through Kerem Shalom into Gaza, carrying wheat flour, milk, vegetable oil, biscuits, canned meat and canned pulses.
Negotiations for a ceasefire are expected to have an impact on the movement of people either to the shelter or back home. A large number of people remain in the shelters because of the fluid security situation or because their houses have been destroyed.

WFP Response

While people in Gaza are displaced, they will receive either an emergency ration of ready-to-eat food or an emergency electronic voucher.

Once people return to their homes or a location with a host community where they can cook, store food, etc. people will receive either:

One time special food parcels with a focus on host communities supporting people in their homes.
WFP or UNRWA's regular in-kind food distribution – this is the case for people who were already part of these programmes.

EMERGENCY RESPONSE TO CONFLICT-AFFECTED PEOPLE IN GAZA:

SPECIAL FOOD DISTRIBUTION: Between WFP's partner Global Communities and UNRWA, approximately 322,000 people out of the 730,000 people targeted have been reached with special food parcels.
WFP and UNRWA cooperate closely to cross check lists of beneficiaries to ensure that those receiving the special food parcels are not part of WFP's or UNRWA's regular food assistance programmes. A complaint system has also been activated. Cross checking of lists and complaint systems allow WFP and UNRWA to immediately address inclusion and exclusion errors during challenging times.
FOOD FOR UNRWA SHELTERS: WFP assists approximately 265,888 displaced people in 88 UNRWA shelters with emergency food rations.
FOOD FOR PUBLIC SHELTERS: WFP distributes emergency food rations to 12,874 displaced people at 20 public shelters.
VOUCHERS FOR FAMILIES SHELTERING IN HOST COMMUNITIES: WFP and Oxfam GB are distributing emergency electronic food vouchers to 78,000 people (13,000 families) living in host communities. This programme is being scaled up as additional people are being identified as in need.
Families can use the voucher to buy locally produced food at local shops. A WFP-UNICEF partnership enables families to be able to purchase water and sanitation products in addition to food with a single voucher.
The vouchers have an overall value of approximately US$ 128 (440 NIS) per month, for an average family of six.
WFP and Oxfam GB are adding more voucher shops to the programme for sufficient geographical coverage. A total of 12 new voucher shops have been selected.
FOOD FOR HOSPITALS: WFP is reaching approximately 2,040 patients and hospital staff emergency food rations.

WFP's ONGOING PRE-CONFLICT PROGRAMMES:

WFP and Global Communities resumed the regular July-August food distribution cycle, targeting 95,000 people. Since August 6, Global Communities, in partnership with WFP, has reached 83,630 beneficiaries. Global Communities opened additional distribution points during the latest ceasefire, and staff worked double shifts to increase distribution hours. As a result, the current cycle is nearly completed, despite the challenges. To date, 2,174 mt of sugar, flour, vegetable oil, and chick peas have been distributed.
WFP's regular voucher programme, targeting 60,000 people, remained functional during the crisis. The voucher redemption rate in the second week of August reached almost 100 percent. Rates for the third week of August will be available in the next days.

Monitoring

WFP is closely monitoring the food security situation in Gaza, as well as available stocks at voucher shops.

Basic commodities:

Pressure remains on the availability of bread and eggs. Prices of fresh vegetables are higher than prior to the conflict. The price of olive oil has gone up.
The lack of electricity limits the storage capacity for fresh food for both shops and households.

Wheat and bakeries:

WFP Gaza Emergency, 18 August 2014 – WFP situation report #23

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