(April – June 2009)
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
(excerpt)
Food insecurity has become increasingly prevalent in the Gaza Strip as a consequence of lacking economic opportunities and progressive limitations imposed under Israeli control. The livelihoods crisis has been further aggravated by a 28 month blockade restricting commercial access for the import and export of goods and people towards labour markets. As a result, the Gaza Strip is currently undergoing a de?development in which the shrinking of the private sector and a stagnated economy is reeling the population into high levels of poverty and food insecurity. The removal of restrictions on Gaza's borders by the Government of Israel is an essential prerequisite as to start the revival of the economy and allow free access to agricultural areas within Gaza, as well as unrestricted fishing in Gaza's territorial waters.
While the final results of the Socio-Economic and Food Security Survey (SEFsec) in the West Bank are diverse and multifaceted indicating a more diverse and fragmented environment, findings from the Gaza Strip show that the majority of households are characterised by high levels of poverty and food insecurity. The disaggregation of data by social categories therefore shows that households have generally been hit by the same shocks. Over three quarters of the population is food insecure or vulnerable to food insecurity which means the large majority of the population is widening its consumption gap, over-stretching its coping mechanisms and relies heavily on aid subsidies to sustain its level of food security. The evidence shows that the population is being sustained at the most basic or minimum humanitarian standard. The protracted closure since June 2007 provides actors with limited scope for improving employment, livelihood sustainability and, as a consequence, food security in the Gaza Strip. Despite the high coverage of assistance in the Gaza Strip which enables an acceptable level of food consumption for most of the population, the prevalence of food insecurity remains high due to widespread absolute poverty and lack of purchasing power to buy food and cover other essential needs.