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The United Nations has warned that rising unemployment and poverty in
the West Bank
and Gaza Strip, coupled with economic suffocation, are posing acute challenges
to food security, leaving many families totally reliant on outside assistance, as
well as threatening vital sectors of the Palestinian economy.
The warning comes in a report by WFP and the Food and
Agriculture Organization (FAO) due to be released this month, reviewing and
analysing 2006 statistics and assessing food security and socio-economic conditions
in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
Weakening economy
It says that while food security levels in the
occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) have been maintained through regular
humanitarian assistance and strong social solidarity among Palestinians, almost
half of the population remains food insecure or is at risk of becoming food
insecure.
The weakening economy is leading to a marked decline
in living standards. According to the report, 84 percent of Gazans and 60
percent of West Bankers were found to be reducing their living expenditures by
the end of 2006. Many people, who cannot afford to buy food, have been forced
to sell off valuable livelihood assets such as land or tools.
Long-term health risk
“The poorest families are now living a meagre
existence totally reliant on assistance, with no electricity or heating and
eating food prepared with water from bad sources. This is putting their long-term
health at risk,” stressed Arnold Vercken, WFP’s Country Director in the oPt.
One particularly disturbing factor noted by the
report is the growing proportion of the urban population suffering food
insecurity, alongside the more traditionally vulnerable rural and refugee
populations.
All Palestinians are to a greater or lesser extent
caught between rising food prices and declining purchasing power.
Political dialogue and stability
“In recent years, Palestinians have shared the burden
of rising poverty, but without sustainable economic recovery, the humanitarian
caseload will only increase over time,” said Erminio Sacco, FAO Food Security
Advisor in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
“Food assistance alone cannot prevent this decline –
there also has to be economic growth which requires political dialogue and
stability,” said Vercken.
The report illustrates how restrictions on trade and
movement experienced over 2006 have led to the progressive fragmentation of the
economy, dragging previously self-reliant sectors of society (farmers, workers,
fishermen, traders and small shop owners) into poverty and debt.
Stagnant trade
Gaza relies almost entirely on imported
food, thus any closure of the Karni commercial crossing has a direct impact on
the availability and price of basic commodities.
The stagnation of trade experienced in 2006
drastically affected employment and income opportunities throughout the Gaza
Strip leading to a serious rise in poverty.
The WFP operation was originally designed to provide 154,000
tons of food assistance to 135,500 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and 344,500
in the West Bank.
Impoverishment
However, since various restrictions were placed on
international funding to the Palestinian Authority in January 2006, an
increasing number of Palestinians have been facing impoverishment.
WFP has responded to growing needs by raising the
number of beneficiaries from 480,000 to 600,000.
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