World Food Programme Emergency Report 2006 – WFP report no. 22 (excerpts)

World Food Programme Emergency Report 2006

Issued Weekly by the United Nations World Food Programme

Report No. 22 / 2006 – Date 02 June 2006

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(2) Occupied Palestinian Territories

(a) During the reporting period (1-31 May), the internal security situation in the West Bank and Gaza Strip continued to deteriorate. This month saw the paramilitary forces of Hamas on the streets of Gaza clashing with Presidential security forces. WFP is concerned over being caught in cross-fire between rival factions.

(b) Access to beneficiaries is becoming an increasing concern in light of the deteriorating security environment. WFP noted an improvement in access to Gaza with longer opening of Karni coupled with opening of complimentary crossing points. UN National Staff remain currently unable to cross through Erez crossing owing to security procedures still under discussion; UN national staff in the West Bank also faced increased access restrictions. There were 2 days this month where UN national staff from the West Bank were unable to get to work in Jerusalem owing to tight closures.

(c) In response to the deteriorating food security situation WFP plans to implement the planned 25 percent caseload increase as of July 2006. A budget revision is being submitted accordingly.

(d) There are increasing signs in the field that the situation is becoming critical; the pressure at the distribution points (West Bank and Gaza Strip) is increasing markedly, non beneficiaries are in some cases resorting to violent means as they are so desperate for food.

(e) The PNA proposal to pay some salaries of lower paid employees has been met with violence on the streets of Gaza from security forces furious after months of non payment. The Temporary Intermediary Mechanism for PNA financial support is still being discussed and looks unlikely to be implemented until July at the earliest.

(f) The fourth cycle of distributions started in all West bank governorates. Almost 6,000 registered Social Hardship Case (SHC) received a total of 1,000 tons of mixed WFP food commodities.

(g) Distributions are ongoing throughout the West Bank. Some 87,000 New Poor beneficiaries received 2,000 tons of food in May.

(h) Under the Food-for-Work activities in Northern West Bank; 5,500m of Stone Walls were built, 650m of Retaining Walls were built, 3,500 sq/m of walls were painted, 2,400 trees were planted in public areas and schools, 950m of public roads were rehabilitated, 412 sq/m of walls were constructed in schools, 1,050m of Water tunnels were rehabilitated, a 80sq/m Computer Centre was constructed, a new public park was built, a Laboratory and Warehouse were built at a local elementary school.

(i) In Southern West Bank, in Halhul village, north of the city of Hebron, Food-for-Work beneficiaries worked of widening a road that connects the town to the surrounding agricultural areas, building about 3400 square meters of retaining walls. While in Beit Awwa village, western side of the Hebron area, the beneficiaries constructed four classrooms at the local school, Meanwhile, the establishment of a garden for the children in Bei Ummar, northern Hebron governorate, was the main project implemented by the beneficiaries. The work at the garden included establishing retaining walls, planting trees and installing pinches.

(j) In Gaza Strip, some 70,600 beneficiaries received 45,440 tons of food through the framework of Food-for-Work and Food-for-Training. The activities were; 2700 m of walls were built, 2km of curbstones were built, 5760 trees planted, 37Km of roads rehabilitated, 25,800 sq/m of walls were painted, 17 km of agricultural roads rehabilitated,5100 m of curbstones were painted, 3 public buildings were rehabilitated, 50 traffic signs were installed, 1km of fences were built around public gardens,101 donums of agricultural land were harvested, 1km of fencing was installed around agricultural roads, 300 donums of gardens were planted with vegetables and medical plants (herbs), Trainings on food processing, computers, first aid, sewing, public awareness regarding solid waste disposal working at a nursery, home gardens & environmental awareness, animal husbandry, social awareness & home gardening, literacy, social awareness, land rehabilitation and milk production.

(k) In the West Bank, all institutions registered to the institutional feeding project received their rations for the months of March, April and May 2006. The Third distribution cycle for the Kindergarten registered with Near East Foundation (NEF) still going on during the reporting period. The total number of 2,047 benefited from the project attending 31 kindergartens.

(l) An Emergency Food Security Needs review was conducted; document is still in draft form. Field data for the dietary diversity study is being collected in Gaza to help track the impact of the deteriorating situation on households’ food status. The data collection for the Dietary Diversity study is completed.

(m) The pipeline break is in end July 2006. WFP received some $ 886,000 contribution,some $335,000 and $891,000 (in-kind: canned fish) were pledged. WFP has received the advance loan of $5million. WFP is working on finalising the $4.5 million loan to cover the Social Hardship Cases and Institutions over the pipeline break.

(n) Meetings were also held with the Local Aid Coordination Secretariat (LACS) to brief the team on the deteriorating food situation and WFP programmes and with ICRC to share concerns over the deteriorating situation and contingency plans should the situation continue. WFP also contributed to an ECHO assessment mission of ICRC programme.

(o) WFP also attended two UN Advocacy meetings and a number of preparatory meetings for the CAP launch. WFP VAM continues very close cooperation with FAO on the food security situation.

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