WFP requires $48m for Gaza humanitarian response

The World Food Program (WFP) said on Tuesday that it requires USD 48 million for its humanitarian response in Gaza for a period of three months.
For its regular food assistance, WFP requires USD20 million for Gaza and USD15 million for the West Bank, said the WFP in a press briefing in Geneva.
As of 3 August, WFP has reached almost 312,000 conflict affected people in Gaza with emergency food assistance. This is an increase of more than 56,000 people since 31 July.
WFP in cooperation with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) has begun a large scale effort to bring fresh bread to people in shelters.
The aim is to bring 10 million tons of bread from Jerusalem to Gaza each day. This relieves the significant pressure on Gaza bakeries who have power outages, damaged infrastructure, a lack of fuel and security constraints.
The bread is also a key element of the ready-to-eat food for people in shelters. Bakers in the West Bank may join the effort in the coming days adding another 10 million tons of bread daily to the Jerusalem quantity.
A total of 12 WFP trucks crossed Kerem Shalom crossing on 03 August, with canned meat, milk, biscuits, wheat flour and fresh bread produced in Jerusalem.
WFP assists approximately 270,000 displaced people in 95 UNRWA shelters and around 15,700 displaced people at 19 public shelters with emergency food rations.
WFP is reaching approximately 2,040 patients and hospital staff with emergency food rations.
WFP reached a total of 4,000 families (almost 13,700 people) staying in host communities with emergency electronic food vouchers.
This is an increase of more than 1,700 families since 31 July. The vouchers have an overall value of approximately USD128 per month, for an average family of six.
Families can use the voucher to buy locally produced food at local shops and after the launch of a WFP-UNICEF partnership, families also have the option to buy water and sanitation products.
Of WFP's 60 voucher shops in Gaza, 25 shops were closed Sunday, 03 August, due to security conditions, destruction or damage. WFP is working to add additional voucher shops to its programme.