WFP EXTENDS EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE TO PALESTINIANS
(Please see below for UPDATES.)
ROME – Amid continuing violence and conflict in the Palestinian Territories and the resulting deprivations on the lives and livelihoods of the population, the United Nations World Food Programme announced today that it will extend its emergency operation in the Territories for a further 12 months.
Under the previous emergency operation, which ended last month, WFP provided food to more than half a million people in the Territories at a cost of US$29 million.
For the past four years people’s lives have been affected by continuing political instability, military incursions, curfews, house demolitions and a “closure policy”, with over 600 checkpoints which prevent many Palestinians from reaching their work or schools.
In addition, the construction of the 185-km “Separation Wall” that dissects the Palestinian Territories has further complicated a rapidly deteriorating economic situation.
“What is left today is not a viable economy. These are people who are struggling to survive,” said Jean-Luc Siblot, Country Director for WFP’s operations in the Territories.
“By extending our operations, WFP is demonstrating our support for those most affected by the crisis. This requires full and uninterrupted access to all our beneficiaries and free movement of food to the Territories, which is not the case today,” he added.
Under the new operation, valued at US$41 million, WFP will provide relief food distribution to 480,000 people facing severe hardship. According to WFP’s vulnerability assessment last April, an estimated 38 percent of the population is food insecure while a further 26 percent is at risk.
Within the Gaza Strip alone, food insecurity rates reached as high as 66 percent in Rafah, 56 percent in Jabalia, 40 percent in Khan Younis and 23 percent in Gaza city, added the report.
Falling incomes are another factor contributing to severe malnutrition, particularly among women and children.
“Poor households are resorting to negative coping strategies, such as selling assets, accruing debt, reducing the quantity and number of meals and cutting out on expensive foods such as meat, milk and dairy products,” Siblot said. “Unless we continue to provide food assistance, the malnutrition among the targeted population will most likely increase.”
WFP’s operations in the Territories includes “Food-for-Work”, in which participants do agricultural rehabilitation and community works, such as the rehabilitation of roads, water systems and schools and “Food-for-Training”, involving lessons in literacy, agriculture, food processing, beekeeping, ICT and boat maintenance.
“Food aid plays an important role in cushioning the effect of this humanitarian crisis,” said Siblot. “Our main aim is to sustain the livelihoods of the population,” he added.
* * *
WFP is the world's largest humanitarian agency: in 2003 we gave food aid to a record 104 million people in 81 countries, including 56 million hungry children. WFP Global School Feeding Campaign - For just 19 US cents a day, you can help WFP give children in poor countries a healthy meal at school -- a gift of hope for a brighter future. Visit our website: http://www.wfp.org
United Nations World Food Programme http://www.wfp.org
Photo courtesy of The Palestine Chronicle http://www.palestinechronicle.com
Please see:
Ghada Karmi: Vanishing the Palestinians
http://www.palestinechronicle.com/story.php?sid=20040729062352419
Please also read the following report from The International Solidarity Movement
Report From the Freedom March , August 3, 2004
Internationals and Palestinians Attacked by Border Police;
Travel Obstructed by the Wall
Today the March against the Wall began from Deir Al Ghassun moving south to Al Jarushiya. Close to the village of Shweikeh peaceful marchers were attacked by border police with tear gas and concussion grenades.
At noon today, about 80 marchers peacefully approached the gate at Shweikeh, singing and chanting. They were immediately stopped by the Israeli Border Police. The Freedom Marchers negotiated with the Border Police and the police told the protesters that they could stand behind the gate. As the marchers retreated they were attacked by border police.
The police fired at least ten tear gas canisters directly at the protesters. Seven required on-site first aid for tear gas inhalation. The Israeli border police also fired tear gas canisters directly at journalists accompanying the march. A journalist from the European news agency, EBA, was hit in the forehead and jaw with a concussion grenade.
As the marchers retreated toward the village of Shweikeh they were chased by the border police who continued to fire tear gas canisters at them. They arrived at the village where they remained for two hours before continuing on to Tulkarem.
Once again the Freedom Marcher's attempts to travel in the West Bank have been obstructed by the Wall, thus exposing the injustice of a barrier that is separating people from each other, from their land and from their communities.
For photos and more information see The International Solidarity Movement
http://www.palsolidarity.org
Please also see:
"It's a small world after all" http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article2968.shtml
Sharon Approves Building 600 New Settlements
http://www.islamonline.net/English/News/2004-08/03/article01.shtml
U.N. General Assembly Demands Israeli Compliance
http://www.unobserver.com/index.php?pagina=layout4.php&id=1820&blz=1
Stop The Wall http://www.stopthewall.org
UPDATES
Responding to continued insecurity, UN agency relocates more staff out of Gaza http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=11542&Cr=palestin&Cr1=
(Please see below for UPDATES.)
ROME – Amid continuing violence and conflict in the Palestinian Territories and the resulting deprivations on the lives and livelihoods of the population, the United Nations World Food Programme announced today that it will extend its emergency operation in the Territories for a further 12 months.
Under the previous emergency operation, which ended last month, WFP provided food to more than half a million people in the Territories at a cost of US$29 million.
For the past four years people’s lives have been affected by continuing political instability, military incursions, curfews, house demolitions and a “closure policy”, with over 600 checkpoints which prevent many Palestinians from reaching their work or schools.
In addition, the construction of the 185-km “Separation Wall” that dissects the Palestinian Territories has further complicated a rapidly deteriorating economic situation.
“What is left today is not a viable economy. These are people who are struggling to survive,” said Jean-Luc Siblot, Country Director for WFP’s operations in the Territories.
“By extending our operations, WFP is demonstrating our support for those most affected by the crisis. This requires full and uninterrupted access to all our beneficiaries and free movement of food to the Territories, which is not the case today,” he added.
Under the new operation, valued at US$41 million, WFP will provide relief food distribution to 480,000 people facing severe hardship. According to WFP’s vulnerability assessment last April, an estimated 38 percent of the population is food insecure while a further 26 percent is at risk.
Within the Gaza Strip alone, food insecurity rates reached as high as 66 percent in Rafah, 56 percent in Jabalia, 40 percent in Khan Younis and 23 percent in Gaza city, added the report.
Falling incomes are another factor contributing to severe malnutrition, particularly among women and children.
“Poor households are resorting to negative coping strategies, such as selling assets, accruing debt, reducing the quantity and number of meals and cutting out on expensive foods such as meat, milk and dairy products,” Siblot said. “Unless we continue to provide food assistance, the malnutrition among the targeted population will most likely increase.”
WFP’s operations in the Territories includes “Food-for-Work”, in which participants do agricultural rehabilitation and community works, such as the rehabilitation of roads, water systems and schools and “Food-for-Training”, involving lessons in literacy, agriculture, food processing, beekeeping, ICT and boat maintenance.
“Food aid plays an important role in cushioning the effect of this humanitarian crisis,” said Siblot. “Our main aim is to sustain the livelihoods of the population,” he added.
* * *
WFP is the world's largest humanitarian agency: in 2003 we gave food aid to a record 104 million people in 81 countries, including 56 million hungry children. WFP Global School Feeding Campaign - For just 19 US cents a day, you can help WFP give children in poor countries a healthy meal at school -- a gift of hope for a brighter future. Visit our website: http://www.wfp.org
United Nations World Food Programme http://www.wfp.org
Photo courtesy of The Palestine Chronicle http://www.palestinechronicle.com
Please see:
Ghada Karmi: Vanishing the Palestinians
http://www.palestinechronicle.com/story.php?sid=20040729062352419
Please also read the following report from The International Solidarity Movement
Report From the Freedom March , August 3, 2004
Internationals and Palestinians Attacked by Border Police;
Travel Obstructed by the Wall
Today the March against the Wall began from Deir Al Ghassun moving south to Al Jarushiya. Close to the village of Shweikeh peaceful marchers were attacked by border police with tear gas and concussion grenades.
At noon today, about 80 marchers peacefully approached the gate at Shweikeh, singing and chanting. They were immediately stopped by the Israeli Border Police. The Freedom Marchers negotiated with the Border Police and the police told the protesters that they could stand behind the gate. As the marchers retreated they were attacked by border police.
The police fired at least ten tear gas canisters directly at the protesters. Seven required on-site first aid for tear gas inhalation. The Israeli border police also fired tear gas canisters directly at journalists accompanying the march. A journalist from the European news agency, EBA, was hit in the forehead and jaw with a concussion grenade.
As the marchers retreated toward the village of Shweikeh they were chased by the border police who continued to fire tear gas canisters at them. They arrived at the village where they remained for two hours before continuing on to Tulkarem.
Once again the Freedom Marcher's attempts to travel in the West Bank have been obstructed by the Wall, thus exposing the injustice of a barrier that is separating people from each other, from their land and from their communities.
For photos and more information see The International Solidarity Movement
http://www.palsolidarity.org
Please also see:
"It's a small world after all" http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article2968.shtml
Sharon Approves Building 600 New Settlements
http://www.islamonline.net/English/News/2004-08/03/article01.shtml
U.N. General Assembly Demands Israeli Compliance
http://www.unobserver.com/index.php?pagina=layout4.php&id=1820&blz=1
Stop The Wall http://www.stopthewall.org
UPDATES
Responding to continued insecurity, UN agency relocates more staff out of Gaza http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=11542&Cr=palestin&Cr1=