Memorandum submitted by Mr Jean-Luc Siblot,
World Food Programme Country Director for the OPT
CO -ORDINATION
OF FOOD RELIEF
AID IN
THE OPT.
In Jenin like in all the other governorates
of the Gaza Strip and West Bank, WFP is supplying food aid to
the most vulnerable strata of the non-refugee population when
UNRWA is addressing the needs of the refugees. Over the last 12
months, WFP has made continuous efforts to avoid duplication of
tasks, particularly in the Gaza strip where the percentage of
refugees is around 75. In a nutshell, in addition to food supplies
to supplementary feeding centres in Gaza and Hebron (WB) and some
institutional centres, WFP beneficiaries can be divided into two
main categories:
— The Social Hardship cases registered
by the Ministry of Social Affairs receiving a full ration of basic
commodities (121,000 people).
— The "New Poor", mainly
Palestinian who have lost their jobs and are enrolled in food
for work or food for training activities. They are receiving a
two third of a full ration distributed by several NGO partners,
both national and international. The target figure after the possible
take over of ICRC caseload and consistent targeting would be around
350,000 people by the end of January: We plan to support a total
of some 350 000 "new poor" in both the WB & Gaza
strip starting end of January 2004 in addition to some 120,000
people registered as social Cases, 20, 000 people in institutions,
6,000 children receiving supplementary rations as well as support
to their families , around 30,000 or a total close to 530,000
beneficiaries as indicated in our Emop Document 10190.1. (Copy
placed in the Library)
OLIVE OIL
At the end of 2002, WFP has initiated, with
the financial support of the EC and in close coordination with
the Ministry of Agriculture, a programme of purchase of 272 mt
of olive oil produced in the northern part of the West Bank. The
new concept in this project was the direct purchase of small quantities
of olive oil among a selection of some 1,600 poor farmers who
have received, each of them, a cheque of US$ 800. Moreover, WFP
for the first time has been successful to transport and distribute
part of this consignment to beneficiaries in the Gaza strip. Note
that we are starting a new phase with the purchase of 450 mt.
For further detail please see the report: "Locally
purchased olive oil from poor farmers in the West Bank"
Final Project Report, July 2003 (WFO, OPT). (Copy placed in
the Library)
Finally, I would like to mention that WFP is
currently implementing an emergency operation (Emop 10190.1) till
mid July 2004 with a total requirement of US$ 31 million. As of
today we are short of US $10 million which would be absolutely
necessary to pursue a continuity in our programmes and strategy.
November 2003
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