A Joint Rapid Food Security Survey (JRFSS) conducted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and WFP in April 2008 found 38 percent of the assessed population to be food-insecure (compared with 34 percent in 2006 ), 14 percent vulnerable to food insecurity and 12 percent marginally food-secure. Food insecurity in the West Bank stands at 25 percent. The results also showed an increase in food insecurity among urban dwellers, from 32 percent to 39 percent since May 2008. The root causes of food insecurity in urban areas stem from high unemployment, strained livelihoods options, tight mobility restrictions as an effect of the West Bank closure, as well as low daily wages and salaries unadjusted to inflation.
The WFP Safety Nets Study carried out in July 2008 confirmed that the Occupied Palestinian Territory is highly vulnerable to the impact of global food prices on domestic markets because of its dependence on imports. The Occupied Palestinian Territory imports 96 percent of staple foods including cereals and pulses. Moreover, high inland transportation costs also raise the likelihood of price hikes given that most direct transport routes are often cut off as a result of closures. Most complementary non-staple food commodities are of domestic origin, but inputs for the production of these foods are imported; these inputs have become rapidly more expensive as a consequence of both the tightening of closure restrictions as well as the dry spell in the West Bank in 2008, which pushed up agricultural prices. The recent conflict in the Gaza Strip did not trigger any relevant price increases in the West Bank; this trend is confirmed by current markets’ visits.
In 2008, the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) requested emergency assistance from WFP to provide a specific response to the ‘new poor' in the context of the global high food price crisis and continuing political and economic instability. While UNRWA covers the food needs of refugees, WFP currently assists the non-refugee population in the West Bank through its protracted relief and recovery operation (PRRO 10387.1). However, the ‘new poor’ are currently not covered by UNRWA, WFP or assistance from other partners.
To respond to the impact of high food prices, WFP proposes, under this emergency operation, a pilot food voucher project for 5,500 families, totalling around 31,000 individuals in the West Bank. The specific target group of the operation, categorized as people vulnerable to food insecurity in urban areas, remains at risk from the impact of high food prices as they are not covered by WFP or other assistance. The EMOP will consist of a monthly allocation of vouchers of a fixed cash value, which will be redeemed against specific food commodities in pre-selected shops to meet urgent food needs. The operation is also expected to provide a financial stimulus to the local economy, promoting the trade of related businesses such as bakeries and dairy factories. As such, vouchers are the preferred response to mitigate the impact of high food prices in the urban areas of the West Bank. WFP is currently implementing an emergency operation – “Emergency Food Assistance for Operation Lifeline Gaza” – to respond to the specific requirements of people in the Gaza Strip following the recent conflict – which includes the development of a similar cash/voucher assistance component.
The objectives of the operation are in line with WFP Strategic Objective 1 (Save lives and protect livelihoods in emergencies) and WFP Strategic Objective 5 (Strengthen the capacities of countries to reduce hunger, including through handover strategies and local purchase) and Millennium Development Goal 1 (To eradicate poverty and hunger).
