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Source: World Food Programme (WFP)	20 August 2014

External Situation Report #24 20/August/2014

Highlights

• The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains alarming, especially after hostilities in Gaza resumed, which has led to an increase in the number of people that are seeking refuge at either UNRWA or public shelters.
• Initial findings estimate that the losses for the agricultural sector in Gaza are US$ 450 million, which is expected to have a substantial impact on peoples' livelihoods and food security situation.
• As the situation in Gaza allows, WFP will continue to progressively shift from ready-to-eat food to emergency voucher assistance, in close cooperation with UNICEF. Families can use the vouchers to buy water, sanitation and food products in local markets.
• WFP requires US$ 48 million for Gaza emergency response, of which US$15 million are urgently required for emergency food assistance in September and October.

• The number of displaced people in Gaza is estimated to be around 450,000. An estimated 100,000 people will not be able to return to their homes after ceasefire, and will be in need of food and other assistance for a longer period.
• Kerem Shalom crossing between Israel and Gaza remains the only crossing for cargo into the Gaza Strip. Negotiations are ongoing for additional crossing points.
• WFP continues to transport food into Gaza to reach affected people with food assistance. Between 18 and 20 August 33 WFP trucks crossed into Gaza. The trucks carried pulses, milk, canned meat, vegetable oil and wheat flour.

• While people in Gaza are displaced, they receive a special emergency ration of ready-to-eat food.
• Once people return to their homes or a location with a host community where they can cook, store food, etc. people will receive either in-kind food assistance or voucher assistance. The in-kind
• assistance, is being delivered through the following two modalities:
• 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.
• 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.
• As the situation allows, WFP will progressively shift from in-kind assistance to voucher assistance for returnees, to support them with their immediate needs while assessing most appropriate interventions to support the rebuilding of their livelihoods.

• SPECIAL FOOD DISTRIBUTION: Between WFP's partner Global Communities and UNRWA, approximately 415,242 people (or 57 percent) out of the 730,000 people targeted have been reached with food parcels. More than 814 metric tons (mt) of rice and 2,442 mt of wheat flour has been distributed.
• FOOD FOR UNRWA SHELTERS: WFP assists approximately 264,649 displaced people in 89 UNRWA shelters with emergency food rations.
• FOOD FOR PUBLIC SHELTERS: WFP distributes emergency food rations to 10,241 displaced people at 11 public shelters.
• VOUCHERS FOR FAMILIES SHELTERING IN HOST COMMUNITIES: WFP and Oxfam GB are distributing emergency electronic food vouchers to 108,000 people (18,000 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 has transferred 5,000 additional voucher cards from Jerusalem to Gaza.
• A total of 12 new shops have been added to the voucher programme to absorb the additional people receiving voucher assistance. More shops are being assessed to be added to the programme. During the last two days, voucher
• recipients used their vouchers in a total of 49 shops out of the 69 voucher shops.

WFP's ONGOING PRE-CONFLICT PROGRAMMES:

• WFP and Global Communities completed the regular July-August food distribution cycle, reaching 95,000 people.

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. The price of olive oil has gone up.
• The lack of electricity limits the storage capacity for fresh food for both shops and households.
• Prices of fresh vegetables are higher in comparison to June 2014, the month prior to the conflict, especially for peppers, tomatoes and cucumbers.

• Pressure on bakeries because of the high demand of bread remains. Bakeries face challenges with their generators and fuel stock.

• People mostly buy dairy products for immediate consumption, or products such as shelf life milk, because there is no possibility for refrigeration in houses.

• Together with humanitarian partners in Palestine, the Food Security Sector (FSS) has completed phase two of the Multi-Cluster/Sector Initial Rapid Assessment (MIRA). Thirteen teams have visited 22 localities across the Gaza Strip, and carried out assessments over a period of two days.
• Following the MIRA, the FSS is preparing to start the Emergency Food Security and Agriculture damages Assessment (EFSAA) in Gaza. However, the EFSAA can only take place once a ceasefire is agreed and would start one week after hostilities are ended. The EFSAA is a rapid qualitative assessment of the food security and livelihood situation of households in the Gaza Strip.

• Since the activation of the Logistics Cluster on 30 July, the delivery of more than 2,100 pallets of humanitarian relief items to Gaza via 80 trucks has been coordinated, for a total of 25 humanitarian organizations.
• On 19 August, the Logistics Cluster facilitated the transportation of 365 pallets of food, shelter and WASH supplies into the Gaza Strip on behalf of Global Communities and the Ministry of Social Affairs.
• Through lead agency WFP, the Logistics Cluster also coordinated the transportation of 28 pallets of private donations of water, diapers and dried food.
• The Logistics Cluster is liaising with relevant authorities to ease cargo bottlenecks. Moreover, the cluster is requesting the humanitarian community in Palestine to provide a list of cargo priorities for the Gaza response, to ensure goods are delivered in a timely manner taking into account the security procedures for the crossing process.

• WFP requires US$ 48 million for its humanitarian response in Gaza for a period of three months and US$ 20 million for its regular food assistance in Gaza (US$5 million) and the West Bank (US$15 million).
• According to the results of the latest food security assessment, which was held prior to the Gaza emergency.

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