World Food Programme (WFP)
WFP has been providing food assistance to the oPt since 1991. The Country Office is located in Jerusalem, and is supported by an office in Gaza, 2 sub-offices (Nablus and Hebron) and one port office (Ashdod). WFP employs over 100 staff in the oPt, both national and international. Food assistance is provided to a total of 413,000 non-refugee beneficiaries in the West Bank and 335,000 in the Gaza Strip. The assistance is provided through four different WFP programmes:
An Emergency Operation (EMOP) in Gaza
In the aftermath of the December 2008 war, the WFP Emergency Operation targets 365,000 persons in Gaza ‑ which represents 80 percent of its non-refugee population. The operation aims at meeting the immediate needs of the population affected by the conflict as well as improving the food consumption of families and individuals in need. WFP also thrives to maintain the enrolment of children in schools through the daily distribution of snacks composed of milk, biscuits and canned meat to around 50,000 children in selected schools. By the end of 2009, this number will have grown to 92,000 children.
As the situation in Gaza calms down, WFP will begin to integrate food vouchers as a substitution for food transfers for some of the beneficiaries in the Gaza Strip cities of Gaza and Khan Younis. As of September 2009, vouchers distributed to approximately 2,330 families (i.e., 15,000 persons) will enable them to access protein-rich food (dairy products and eggs) directly from small and medium-sized traders in Gaza while saving cash for other essential food and non-food commodities. If conditions allow, WFP will consider support to the recovery activities related to food production and marketing.
A Protracted Relief and Recovery Operation (PRRO) in the West Bank
WFP started this programme in September 2007 in order to meet the food needs of the most vulnerable non-refugee population in the oPt. It covered both the West Bank and Gaza until December 2008. Following the war and the launch of the Emergency Operation in Gaza (see above), the revised PRRO now focuses on assisting around 413,000 beneficiaries in the West Bank alone, through four types of interventions:
- Assistance to destitute families
- Assistance to the Vulnerable Groups
- school feeding programme through cash for work
- Food for work and food for training
A Food Voucher Emergency Operation in the West Bank
In response to the high food prices WFP carried out two key studies in 2008: A Safety Net Mission and a Rapid Joint Food Security Assessment. Following the studies recommendations, WFP launched a food voucher programme in urban areas of the West Bank. Voucher distributions started in Qalqilya and Habla in April 2009, followed by Yatta, Hebron and Nablus in May, targeting approximately 5,500 families (i.e., 31,000 individuals).
In partnership with Action Contre la Faim (ACF) and Catholic Relief Services (CRS), WFP ensures the distribution of monthly food vouchers (value 200 NIS) to the selected beneficiaries. The vouchers have a fixed cash value which can be exchanged against specific commodities only (bread, milk, lebaneh, yogurt, white cheese and eggs) and in selected shops located in the beneficiary’s neighborhood.
Through this programme, WFP aims at protecting the livelihoods of poor households affected by the High Food Price crisis in urban areas of the oPt. The programme also stimulates local markets and employment through the direct injection of cash into the local economy, with a positive impact on local production, local employment and small businesses.
A Special Operation (SO): Logistics Cluster
Under the lead of WFP oPt, a Logistics Cluster Cell was established in Jerusalem in January 2009 in view of the increased requirements of humanitarian assistance for the population of Gaza. The cluster supports UN agencies, local/international NGOs and International Organizations with the following:
- Movement facilitation and transport of cargo to Gaza;
- Coordination with local civil and military authorities;
- Logistics information management;
- Transit hub for cargo consolidation and preparation; and
- Liaison with the Humanitarian Coordinator, UNRWA and OCHA.
Through this Special Operation, WFP facilitates the consolidation, prioritization and dispatch of relief items into Gaza by the setting up and expanding cargo consolidation hubs in Israel, the West Bank and Egypt.
Contact Details |
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Mrs. Christine Van Nieuwenhuyse
Head of WFP
P.O.Box: C/O UNDP- 51359, Jerusalem
Tel: 00972-2-5401340, Fax:00972-2-5401227
Media and Communications
Olivia Hantz
Tel: 00972-2-5401340, Email:olivia.hantz@wfp.org
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