Today's Edition
SAMI ABDUL RAOUF (DUBAI) - The World Food Programme (WFP) announced that the total aid provided by the “Tarahum - for Gaza” (Compassion) campaign organised by the UAE has reached 165 tonnes of food aid, describing the UAE as a “strategic partner” of the programme in providing relief and food aid to the people of Gaza.
The WFP, in exclusive statements to Aletihad, stated that these aid were transported to Al Arish International Airport in the Arab Republic of Egypt and then to Gaza through the Rafah Crossing and distributed as food baskets, benefiting 8,250 families, with each basket containing 20kg of various food items.
The programme mentioned that the efforts of the UAE to support the people of Gaza extend to include logistical support by sending other emergency aid from the UN warehouse for humanitarian response located in the International Humanitarian City in Dubai, to Al Arish Airport.
Majid Yahya, WFP Representative to the Gulf Cooperation Council Countries, told Aletihad that through the programme’s warehouses in Dubai, it provided 20 tonnes of ready-to-eat food and six mobile storage units, in addition to 15.6 tonnes for the International Organisation for Migration and 8.7 tonnes of water tanks and tents for the World Health Organisation.
He pointed out that a plane left Sharjah Airport the day before yesterday with three other mobile storage units, supported by European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO), in addition to various relief equipment and medical equipment in partnership with Catholic Relief Services and the United Nations Population Fund.
Yahya noted that the food parcels donated to the programme by the government of the UAE are either launched through Abu Dhabi Airport or its humanitarian response warehouse located in the International Humanitarian City in Dubai. He highlighted the continued cooperation between the UAE and WFP to secure aid as part of the emergency response operation.
When asked about WFP’s role during the proposed ceasefire plan, Yahya said: “We are looking forward to the activation of the ceasefire in Gaza so that we can enter and distribute food and other life-saving supplies to the residents of Gaza who are in dire need of them. “The World Food Programme is quickly preparing to increase aid inside Gaza as soon as safe access is granted. Our fleet of trucks is waiting at the Rafah Crossing, loaded with food for families in shelters and homes across Gaza, and wheat flour for bakeries to resume their operations.”
The WFP official said that once this agreement comes into effect, humanitarian workers must have safe and unhindered access, and civilians must be able to receive assistance safely wherever they are. A steady and sufficient amount of humanitarian supplies and fuel must be able to cross into Gaza. The programme needs more than $314 million in support from donors to reach 1.1 million people with life-saving aid until the end of April, according to the official.
Support from the UAE
For his part, Walid Ibrahim, the coordinator responsible for the UN’s network of warehouses for humanitarian response, affiliated with the WFP, said: “Since the beginning of the events, strategic partners such as the International Humanitarian City in Dubai, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the United Arab Emirates, and the European Union have provided vital support to the UN humanitarian response warehouse and our partners.”
“This came through their contributions and covering the costs of transporting vital food supplies and equipment, which are an important part of the relief efforts for the people of Gaza. This has helped the programme to respond quickly, and increased the capacity of the Egyptian Red Crescent to provide a lifeline to the people of Gaza living in a humanitarian disaster,” he added.
The WFP provided emergency food aid and electronic vouchers to more than 764,000 people across Gaza and the West Bank (704,000 in Gaza and 60,000 in the West Bank), including about 550,000 displaced people in UN-designated shelters who have so far received fresh bread, date biscuits, or canned fish.
WFP’s Efforts
The WFP is also distributing food parcels to displaced families in host communities, although safe access to them has become more difficult. Furthermore, fuel is running out, and communications are still cut off. Families hosting displaced people urgently need gas to cook.
The organisation provides monthly cash transfers to more than 520,000 people and people were able to exchange these electronic vouchers for food throughout October. In the current month of November, the WFP provided vouchers even with dwindling food supplies.
With no commercial goods entering, the organisation is turning to in-kind food, but to do this, flow of food supplies across the border is essential. The Emergency Telecommunications Cluster led by the WFP is ready to establish communication systems in Gaza so that the humanitarian community can work effectively despite repeated communication disruptions.
“We have obtained wired and wireless communication equipment, focusing on alternative energy solutions that operate independently of local operators. We are waiting for permission from local authorities to enter Gaza and establish this network,” the official said.
