The Government of Canada has provided the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) with a contribution of CAD$3.2 million (approximately US$2.4 million) to support 128,000 vulnerable Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.
WFP will use the funds to meet the food needs of 91,000 food-insecure non-refugees in Gaza through electronic vouchers for around one and a half months. They can use the vouchers to buy food items of their choice, including fresh dairy products, eggs and vegetables as well as cereals and pulses in any of 83 designated shops.
In the West Bank, 37,000 vulnerable Bedouin and herders will receive food rations of fortified wheat flour, pulses, vegetable oil and salt that cover their needs for three months.
“We’re grateful for Canada’s commitment to provide food assistance to the most vulnerable Palestinians,” said WFP Representative and Country Director Stephen Kearney. “Continued food assistance is critical as the number of food-insecure people in Palestine is on the rise with people having to skip meals, take on debts and count on the support of neighbors and friends.”
WFP assists the non-refugee communities in Gaza and the West Bank who are most acutely hit by the lack of jobs and who receive less than US$1 a day to cover basic housing, clothing and food needs.
WFP will use part of this contribution to organize nutrition and health awareness sessions where families can learn how to prepare healthy and vitamin-rich meals using their WFP food entitlements. Special attention will be given to pregnant and nursing mothers and caregivers of children under the age of five years.
Original source: WFP
Published on 09 May 2019
