21 June 2013
Food Vouchers Help Poorest Of Poor In Palestine
In the past three years, WFP has injected more than US$100 million into the Palestinian economy. It has done this by purchasing food for its assistance programmes from local producers and by investing in electronic food voucher programmes. During a visit to the Palestinian city of Jericho, WFP Executive Director Ertharin Cousin met shoppers using the electronic vouchers to buy olive oil, salt and other groceries. Most of the food items are produced locally, so the programme helps support local businesses and generates employment. WFP reaches approximately 650,000 food-insecure, non-refugee households in Palestine – the poorest of the poor.