Near East Foundation - NEF Collaboration with World Food Program Makes Leap in West Bank

NEF (Near East Foundation) and a partner organization have worked with the UN World Food Program in the West Bank for more than two years on a number of smaller projects--until the signing of January's agreement of cooperation. This six month pilot project will feed 10,000 Palestinian children in over 130 kindergartens in poor districts of Jenin, Tubas, and Nablus in the West Bank.

In addition, the $400,000-plus project will be a boost for five women's centers and their income generating food activities as well as for two area bakeries involved in food preparation. This will create over 100 new employment opportunities for women.

"These rations offer a daily mid-morning snack of fortified foods that help children grow and increase their school performance and attendance," explained NEF-West Bank Country Director Tarik Abdel-Ghany Kotob. "This pilot is one of the largest World Food Program initiatives developing food security for young Palestinian children," he added with emphasis.

According to 2005 data from the World Health Organization and UNICEF, over 40 percent of Palestinian five-year-olds are anemic. Nearly 76 percent of children one to six years of age show signs of being or becoming vitamin A deficient. Also, 35 percent of all Palestinian are food insecure and another 27 percent vulnerable to insecurity. According to 2006 World Bank projections, 67 percent of Palestinians live in poverty and unemployment is about 40 percent.

NEF MANAGEMENT

NEF is responsible for ensuring the pilot project's compliance with World Food Program guidelines and management of food resources; coordination and supervision of local partners as well as their training and capacity building; and for monitoring and evaluation. At the project's beginning in mid January, NEF conducted food-for-education training for all staff involved.

NEF followed precise selection criteria both for participating kindergartens and benefiting individuals and families. Highest priority was given to female-headed households and those with university student dependents, also to households who had lost income because of the Israeli separation barrier or closures and to farmers whose land had been destroyed or expropriated.

Jenin, Tubas and Nablus were selected because of their conditions. Home to roughly 14,000 Palestinians, Jenin is the second largest refugee camp in the West Bank and densely populated. It was subjected to an Israel Defense Force incursion in April 2002 that resulted in 52 confirmed deaths and leveling of the camp's central district.

Of all Palestinians cities entered during the Israeli operation, Nablus appeared to suffer the most extensive physical damage to property, about $114 million, more than one third of the total reconstruction cost of those affected.

Situated between these two "hot spots," Tubas lies just northeast of Nablus on the road to Jenin. The Wall excludes Tubas from most of the Jordan Valley, which has 70 percent of the area's fertile land and where agriculture is the main source of income and employment.

The NEF-World Food Program pilot project is scheduled to conclude at the end of July.