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Distribution of Fresh Food Parcels in Ramadan 2023
During the third quarter of 2022, the unemployment rate in Gaza reached 47.5%.[1]
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Unemployment is especially high amongst women (72%) due to the lack of opportunities and social barriers limiting access to formal employment. The high level of unemployment associated with low purchasing power has meant that Palestinian families in Gaza are unable to secure their basic food needs.
Household food insecurity in Palestine is mostly explained by: (1) insufficient economic access to food; (2) limitations on food availability (production and imports); (3) impaired food utilization (dietary diversity, health). Several factors affect the food insecurity in the oPt as well as the prolonged illegal Israeli occupation and siege on Gaza – though this is the main factor. Other factors include: (1) low crop production; (2) low animal production; (3) limited fishing outputs; (4) limited variety of market supplies; (5) food losses due to inadequate post-harvest processing and refrigeration; (6) low household income; (7) increased food expenditures; (8) high levels of non-food expenditure needs; (9) inappropriate diet compared to nutritional requirements; (10) inefficient metabolic use of nutrients due to intestinal issues such as infections or diseases. Through this project, each year some of the most marginalised families in Gaza will receive weekly fresh food parcels for five weeks, during the Holy Month of Ramadan.
The specific objectives of this project are:
- Alleviating the economic burden on 1,038 destitute families. Through the provision of fresh food parcels containing fruit and vegetables, plus eggs/chicken (a source of protein); from small scale farmers and processed food from local women’s cooperatives – during the holy month of Ramadan.
- Supplementing the poor diet of food insecure households in targeted areas, with this provision of nutritious and freshly harvested goods.
- Protecting the livelihoods of small farmers affected by the closure policy. Through the purchase of their freshly harvested crops for the family food parcels – to help them generate an income and replant their lands in the coming seasons.
- The packaging stations where the goods are received will generate work days for unemployed workers in the communities, so they can gain income and support their families.
- The project will buy some goods from local women’s co-operatives, to be packed in the fifth week’s food parcels. Such as cookies for the celebration at the end of Ramadan (Eid), for families to share and celebrate together.
Our programme teams in Gaza adjust the variety of fruit and vegetables each week depending on what is freshly harvested and the families’ requests!
In 2022, our food distribution projects in Gaza during Ramadan provided fresh food parcels to:
- 1130 families in South Gaza, who received food parcels once a week for 5 weeks.
- 565 families in South Gaza, who received fresh food parcels once a week for three weeks, thanks to funds raised from our public appeal.
- An additional 168 families who received one fresh food parcel, thanks to savings made by the project team, these families were able to celebrate Eid with these parcels.
This project also bought the freshly harvested crops, eggs and chicken from small-scale farmers, as well as Eid goods from local women’s cooperatives – helping them all to market their goods at fair prices, and generate an income for their families:
- 167 farmers/producers (including 68 women) were able to sell their produce, includes 67 farmers, 36 chicken breeders and 64 workers in the women’s cooperatives.
- Thanks to the generous support during our Gaza Ramadan Appeal, a further 71 small scale farmers/producers sold their produce to this project at good prices (including 36 women: 19 female farmers and 17 women from the women’s cooperatives).
[1] PCBS Labour Force Survey (July-September, 2022) Round (Q3/2022). Press_En_8-11-2022-LF-en.pdf (pcbs.gov.ps)
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