WFP operational update on Gaza

A further 15,000 people have been provided with bread, while canned meat and high-energy biscuits have been delivered to 13 Gaza hospitals, sufficient for 6,000 patients and staff for up to one month.

WFP is calling for all parties to allow a "humanitarian breathing space" to allow it to carry out an assessment of the needs of the most vulnerable people in Gaza and to resume full-scale distributions. In this context, WFP welcomes the Israeli announcement of a three-hour daily ceasefire from today, as a first step.

To ensure WFP's ability to continue to provide food assistance throughout Gaza over the coming weeks and months, it is vital that all crossing points are reopened as soon as possible, most importantly the conveyor belt at the Karni crossing, and thus avoid any breaks in its supply line.

WFP currently has sufficient food stocks in Gaza for the coming days (3,700 metric tons, as against a potential capacity of up to 7,500 tons), but due to the security situation, has serious difficulties in accessing much of this food and distributing it to beneficiaries.

Approximately half this food is being stored in Ministry of Social Affairs warehouses, which are currently not operational, due to prevailing insecurity and in the WFP main warehouse in Gaza, which is inaccessible due to the fighting.

The stocks that we have in Gaza were intended for distribution in the period from October to December 2008, but could only be transported into Gaza in December, due to the blockade. We will require further stocks in Gaza to cover existing needs from January and to meet additional needs once we have carried out assessments.

WFP is urging donors to respond generously to the needs of the people of Gaza. Funding requirements for 2009 are currently at $73m. This includes a shortfall of $63.5m for our current operation, plus a further $9m to cover additional needs resulting from the current crisis.